North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) is currently the joint top‑achieving trust in the UK for Pertussis (Whooping Cough) vaccination delivery.
This is following a recent transformation of maternity vaccination services and the successful introduction of the BeWise Immunise digital booking system.
New figures show a more than 100% increase in maternal pertussis vaccination uptake in north Cumbria compared to last year, with 1,563 vaccinations delivered so far in 2025/26, compared with 768 across the whole of 2024/25 – with two months of the programme still to run. This puts NCIC currently joint first in UK uptake for pertussis vaccination uptake (as of February 2026).
In addition to the record‑breaking increase in pertussis vaccinations, NCIC has also delivered:
- 45% increase in maternal RSV vaccinations (1493 in 2025/26, compared to 1026 in 2024/25)
- An increase in maternal flu vaccinations (figures available from the end of April)
- Nearly 100% patient satisfaction, with a 5‑star Friends and Family Test rating (over 600 patients over six months)
The transformation of maternity vaccination services began in 2024 with a complete redesign of how services were delivered. The programme included:
- Training all maternity staff to become vaccinators
- Securing funding to expand vaccine provision
- Creating dedicated maternity vaccination roles and clinics
- Using real‑time data to adapt clinic locations, staffing and appointment times
- Embedding digital booking and continuous feedback into everyday practice
A key driver of this success has been the BeWise Immunise digital booking system, originally developed for maternity vaccination clinics by NCIC staff in collaboration with SMART Insight Ltd in 2024. The system allows women to quickly and easily book vaccination appointments online, offering greater choice, flexibility and convenience.
The system has since been further developed and is now being used across multiple vaccination pathways, including:
- Staff flu vaccinations
- Complex vaccination clinics
- Children’s COVID‑19 and BCG (tuberculosis) programmes
Women can now receive appointment confirmations, reminders and information via email or text, in multiple languages, with two‑way communication built into the system. Midwives can also pre‑book appointments to support women who may struggle with digital access, helping to reduce health inequalities.
Gayle Howarth, Clinical Lead and Specialist Nurse for Immunisation at NCIC, said:
“I am thrilled that we are leading the way with maternity vaccinations. This programme set out to improve vaccine uptake and protect mums and babies, and the maternity team has achieved amazing results. Digital technology, used properly and designed around patients and staff, has been a huge part of this success. More importantly, safer vaccination means fewer hospital admissions and better outcomes that we can’t always quantify, but we know really matter for both mums and babies.”
The Trust plans to roll out the BeWise Immunise system more widely across services, with the ambition of creating a single, cradle‑to‑grave vaccination booking system. Other trusts across the North East and Cumbria are already beginning to adopt the system, adapting it to their local needs, with potential for wider national rollout. There has also been international interest in the platform.
This work directly supports the ambitions of the NHS 10‑Year Plan, improving access, reducing inequalities, making better use of digital technology, and delivering safer, more efficient care.
