The National Joint Registry is the most impactful health data science project you've never heard of - why and how it's transformed healthcare in the UK

HealthTech Hour · 2026-03-13 · 58 min

Episode notes

20 years ago, there was a scandal around dodgy hip replacements failing. The NHS had no national register for hip replacements - so Richard Armstrong and others set about building one and that is called the National Joint Registry. Scroll forward to today and it is the leading global database for implants and connecting to outcomes. The data is so comprehensive that Richard and his team are able to predict which implants will deliver the best outcomes and the best long-term ROI for any healthcare system. Richard Armstrong is Director of Registries and RWE at NEC Software Solutions and his passion is data science in health - and the impact of his passion is felt throughout the healthcare service, Richard has worked in healthcare informatics for the past decade, running national programmes associated with the collection and reporting of healthcare data. A key aspect of Richard’s work is designing and managing medical registries which analyse data on medical procedures, devices and outcomes. Richard has a pivotal role in advancing real-world evidence initiatives in healthcare, which can significantly impact treatment decisions and patient safety.

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