Smarmore Castle, a specialist residential addiction treatment clinic in Ireland, has been recognised with the CHKS Quality Improvement Award 2025 for its successful implementation of a digital patient management system.
The award, presented at the CHKS Surveyor Update Day in Manchester, celebrates healthcare organisations delivering measurable improvements in patient outcomes, experience and team performance.
Embedding Digital Tools into Clinical Practice
Recently, Smarmore Castle has invested in digital infrastructure to improve how clinical information is shared across its multidisciplinary team. Centralised patient management now supports medical assessments, therapy progress notes, medication plans, and aftercare preparation, providing a clearer and more immediate view of each patient’s progress.
This approach has streamlined documentation, reduced duplication, and enhanced communication across departments. From admission through to discharge, staff can act on live information, ensuring continuity of care and faster, more coordinated responses when patients require additional support.
“This award recognises the way digital systems have been successfully embedded into our clinical practice, which enhances the care every individual receives at Smarmore Castle. It is a testament to the dedication of our staff, whose teamwork and commitment ensure we continue to meet the highest standards,” said Clinic Manager Keith Cassidy, who accepted the award on behalf of the team.
Impact on Patients and Staff
For patients, the use of real-time data helps reduce risk and ensures timely interventions during critical stages such as detox. It also supports consistency in care planning, making treatment more transparent and reliable.
For staff, digital records have improved efficiency and reduced the administrative burden of maintaining multiple paper and electronic files. The system has supported a culture of shared responsibility, where all departments, from admissions to aftercare, can coordinate more effectively around the needs of each patient.
A Wider Shift in Healthcare
Smarmore Castle’s recognition highlights how behavioural health services can benefit from the same digital innovations transforming acute and primary care. By embedding new systems into daily routines, the clinic has demonstrated how data-informed working can complement therapeutic care without compromising the human relationship at the centre of recovery.
As healthcare continues to evolve toward more integrated, data-informed systems, Smarmore Castle’s approach offers a thoughtful example of how digital tools can support, rather than overshadow, the therapeutic relationship. The award reflects steady progress in aligning innovation with compassionate care.
The CHKS award reflects not just the adoption of technology but a sustained commitment to quality improvement and safe, patient-centred treatment.
About Smarmore Castle
Located in County Louth, Smarmore Castle drug and alcohol treatment clinic is a medically led residential addiction treatment rehab. Its abstinence-based programme combines medically managed detox, psychological therapies, mental health support, 12 Step facilitation, and structured continuing care. The setting itself – a historic castle surrounded by countryside – offers a private and confidential therapeutic space for recovery, where patients are treated with dignity and respect.
The clinic treats addiction as a primary illness and is committed to continuous improvement in the quality, safety, and effectiveness of its services. The 2025 CHKS award underscores this commitment and positions Smarmore Castle as a leader in digital innovation within the addiction treatment field.
