Tackling health inequalities through innovation with MySunrise

We’re proud to be part of the Health Innovation South West (HINSW) Cancer Innovation Challenge, an initiative designed to support and evaluate new approaches to cancer care across the South West. As one of the selected innovations, MySunrise has worked closely with the HINSW evaluation team to explore how our digital tools can support more equitable access to care—particularly through our Equality and Health Inequalities Impact Assessment (EHIA).

You can read a summary of the Health Innovation South West report on our website here.

Why health inequalities matter

Health inequalities are the avoidable, unfair differences in health outcomes between different groups of people. These can affect how long we live, the quality of care we receive, and our ability to stay healthy. Factors like income, education, geography, ethnicity, disability, and housing all contribute to these disparities.

For example, someone living in a deprived area may have limited access to healthcare services, poorer living conditions, and higher exposure to health risks—leading to significantly worse outcomes than someone in a more affluent area.

From equality to equity

At MySunrise, we don’t just aim to treat everyone the same – we strive to ensure everyone gets the support they need. This is the difference between health equality and health equity. True health equity recognises that different people face different challenges, and solutions must be tailored accordingly.

For us, that means designing a platform that:

• Is accessible and inclusive for all users
• Supports patients with varying needs and circumstances
• Provides flexible access to reliable information and care pathways
• Reduces the need for unnecessary hospital visits and supports remote engagement

How MySunrise makes a difference

Through the EHIA process, we’ve taken a closer look at how MySunrise can help reduce inequalities rather than unintentionally widen them. As a digital platform, we’re uniquely positioned to:

• Improve access to cancer support in underserved or remote areas
• Deliver consistent, high-quality information in a format that suits different learning styles and languages
• Empower patients and families to be more involved in their care
• Reduce costs and travel time for patients

A step towards a fairer future

Health equity is a top priority for the NHS and for innovators like us. Our work with HINSW has reinforced the importance of building tools that don’t just support cancer care—but also help close the health gap across communities.

"At MySunrise, our mission is to make cancer care more personal, accessible, and fair. Tackling health inequalities is central to that goal."

George Brighton, CEO, MySunrise

We look forward to continuing this work and collaborating with others to build a future where everyone has the chance to live a healthier life—no matter who they are or where they live.

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