HSJ award shortlist for digital therapy pilot that delivered 88% improvement rate for patients with severe depression
Scotland-based Scott McKenzie Consultancy, led by NHS management consultant Scott McKenzie with over 20 years’ experience, has been shortlisted for the Best Consultancy Partnership with the NHS at the 2026 HSJ Partnership Awards, which recognise outstanding dedication to improving healthcare and effective collaboration with the NHS.
The HSJ Partnership Awards have become the most recognised and respected mark of the strongest relationships between suppliers and the NHS. Following the thorough judging process, Scott McKenzie’s partnership entry with Primary Care Warwickshire GP Federation and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals (U.K.) Ltd was included in the final shortlist amid 240+ entries logged for the 2026 awards programme.
The judging panel included senior NHS leaders from provider, commissioning and national roles, including chief executives, clinical leaders and regional NHS England directors.
Scott McKenzie Consultancy identified an collaboration opportunity between Primary Care Warwickshire GP Federation and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals (U.K.) Ltd to pilot Rejoyn, a prescription digital therapeutic for adults with major depressive disorder. We brought both partners together to design and deliver a six month pilot across three GP practices. Rejoyn provides immediate access to treatment through a smartphone app combining cognitive emotional training and therapeutic lessons alongside standard care. Sixty nine patients were referred, with 88% showing PHQ-9 (severity of depression measure) improvement and 60% achieving a clinically significant five point reduction – demonstrating strong outcomes, patient engagement, and potential to scale.
Scott McKenzie, who has worked as an NHS Management Consultant for 20 years, said:
“I’m so proud of what this partnership achieved – and of what it shows is possible when industry works with the NHS, not around it. This project reflects what genuine partnership with the NHS can look like in practice. The Rejoyn pilot worked because Primary Care Warwickshire, Otsuka and our team were aligned around outcomes from day one: faster access to support, meaningful patient engagement, and evidence the NHS can trust.
“With mental health demand at unprecedented levels, the ability to test, learn and scale innovations responsibly like this is critical.”
Scott recently launched a ground breaking book: Embedded: How Pharma, MedTech & Device Companies Get Their Innovations Into NHS Pathways – And Keep Them There, in which he shares the inside track on how industry can work more effectively with the NHS to achieve better patient outcomes. His new podcast on the same theme launches in January 2026.
Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on 19th March 2026 at Evolution London. The event celebrates excellence in healthcare, promotes best practice, and recognises the people and projects improving outcomes for patients nationwide.
For more details on the 2026 HSJ Partnership Awards shortlist, visit https://partnership.hsj.co.uk/
