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Bottleneck Explorer recognised for its potential to improve NHS patient flow and reduce waiting times
An Abertay University project designed to help NHS teams identify pressure points, improve patient flow and reduce waiting times has been named a finalist in this year’s Converge Awards.
Led by Abertay researcher Dr Muhammad Ahmed Saeed, Bottleneck Explorer is a simulation-based decision support tool that helps healthcare teams visualise how patients move through services and anticipate where delays may arise.
Developed in partnership with NHS colleagues, the tool helps healthcare organisations respond to growing demand, capacity constraints and staffing challenges. The tool transforms complex operational data into accessible insights, allowing teams to test different scenarios, anticipate pressure points and make more informed decisions.
By helping services plan ahead and keep care moving, Bottleneck Explorer has the potential to improve outcomes and experiences for both patients and staff.
Dr Saeed said:
The idea grew from a desire to ensure university research reaches the people who can benefit from it. Bottleneck Explorer makes complex information easier to understand, giving NHS teams practical insights that can help reduce waiting times, improve patient care and support staff wellbeing. Being named a finalist is an exciting opportunity to take the project forward, build new connections and explore how it could be developed into a tool that delivers real-world impact.
Bottleneck Explorer is one of 34 finalists selected from 123 participants for demonstrating strong innovation and commercial potential. The finalists will compete across six Challenges and for a number of special prizes, with a total prize fund of £410,000 available.
The Converge Awards will take place at Barony Hall in Glasgow on 1 October.
Adam Kosterka, Executive Director of Converge, said:
It’s an extraordinarily diverse group of finalists this year. Not only do we have the largest number of universities represented in the group of finalists, but we are seeing the non-traditional institutions strongly represented. Innovation, research commercialisation and entrepreneurship are now strongly embedded in our universities’ culture across the board and we are seeing the results of that coming through.
Bottleneck Explorer builds on research undertaken through Design HOPES, an Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded initiative involving five Scottish universities, NHS Scotland, the Scottish Government, third-sector partners and design organisations.
The research led to Flow Fusion, a serious game that uses simulation technology to model hospital patient journeys, anticipate system pressures and test alternative approaches. Ahmed has used insights from that work to develop Bottleneck Explorer as a standalone decision-support tool with commercial potential.
Earlier this year, Ahmed secured £1,500 through the Converge Impact Challenge for Bottleneck Explorer. The award, alongside in-kind business support, helped advance the project from the research stage towards a more developed and market-ready concept.
Since then, Ahmed has secured additional support through the Microfinance Award, DigiTay Tay Cities funding and Flywheel Funding, bringing the total investment in Bottleneck Explorer to £9,500.
