A key part of this ambition is to build a healthier community. We know that preventable long-term conditions can lead to economic inactivity and put extra pressure on NHS primary care. That’s why TFP is supporting a real-world testbed for scalable HealthTech, partnering with L Marks, Avencera and us at PUBLIC to bring tech-enabled care straight into the community.

The Thames Freeport Mobile Health Innovation Platform (MHIP), or simply ‘The Health Bus’, pilot demonstrated the success of this ambition.  Our evaluation demonstrated  that it is  more than just a concept;rather it’s a way to deliver vital care directly to underserved communities, creating real human and economic value.

A July 2026 Health Foundation report highlights that restoring working-age health to 2014 levels could unlock £57 billion in annual economic output. Our own numbers back this up: for a pilot cost of £105,400, the health bus could generate £192,928 in NHS savings over a longer period, demonstrating a 1.83x return on investment. 

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‍Uncovering Hidden Demand

The numbers from the pilot also demonstrate a previously hidden demand for care. By bringing MHIP directly into the heart of Barking and Dagenham, Havering, and Thurrock, we didn't just collect data, we met people where they live and work. Running at full capacity across 28 targeted neighborhood deployments, the platform successfully screened 687 patients, many of whom had felt disconnected from traditional healthcare pathways.

These screenings revealed the human reality behind the statistics, demonstrating why early intervention matters:

• 78% of patients had not undergone a formal NHS health check within the last five years.
• 77% stated that without the health bus appearing in their neighbourhood, they would not have sought a preventative health check at all.
• 21% of all patients tested recorded a QRISK score (a clinical tool that estimates a person's risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years using information from their GP record) of 10% or higher, revealing an elevated 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease.
• 27% of participants were found to have high or borderline-high cholesterol levels, despite nearly 80% reporting no prior diagnosed medical conditions.
• Following their swift 18-minute average appointments, 34% of all attendees were advised to seek formal clinical follow-up with their local GP.

The impact of these 18-minute conversations extends beyond the bus itself. With 86% of high-risk patients choosing to share their results with their GPs, we have built a bridge back into mainstream NHS care, ensuring no one is left to navigate their health journey alone.‍

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A New Vision for Regional Health

By removing the friction of wait times, bookings and travel constraints, the health bus created a new entry point into the local care system. 

Looking forward, Thames Freeport and our partners are committed to developing this vision from a successful trial into a permanent solution. Our goal is to scale this mission, ensuring that proactive, tech-enabled care becomes a lasting reality for more communities. 

If you would like to learn more about the Health Bus or about our further projects with Thames Freeport, feel free to reach out to Florence Mayo at

florence.mayo@public.io .