Blog

I’m hugely lucky in my role as deputy chief executive of Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber as I get to see the best of new health technologies, ways of working and treatments that can really make a difference to the lives of patients. Health innovation networks are the innovation arm of the NHS, and we both support the health innovation pipeline and help the NHS take up new stuff more quickly.

There is so much innovation in the North, in both NHS organisations doing things differently to benefit patients and in northern based innovators, creating products and technologies that will improve people’s lives. Often though, the North is overshadowed by the Golden Triangle, the South East and London, and this potentially means that we can’t get the level of spread and adoption needed to really make a difference.

So, the four Northern health innovation networks came together to deliver Health Innovation North – a celebration of northern innovation. We already work closely together on innovation projects, so this was just the next step for us. We wanted to provide a snapshot of the spread and adoption happening across the North of England in some of our NHS trusts and Primary Care Networks, as well as highlight some of the promising innovations addressing NHS needs.  And, of course, show how collaboration on a large footprint can lead to greater spread.

Just in case you weren’t at the event (and if you weren’t you really missed out!), we gained the perspective of innovators supported by the four networks as they shared how their solutions could solve some of the problems the NHS is facing – from reducing waiting lists to diagnosing conditions more quickly. We were fortunate to be joined by senior level speakers from the system including Sir Stephen Powis, Richard Barker and Tony Young. All reinforced NHS England’s commitment to supporting innovation and urged local health care systems to harness the power of innovation to ensure our patients continue to benefit from new technologies. Insight into how we do innovation across the North, and what it looks like in practice, came from our panels which included representatives from Integrated Care Boards, trusts, innovators and a patient.

I really enjoyed hearing what people had to say and the five themes that really stood out for me were; firstly, the difference innovation can make to the lives of patients. We know theoretically that a new form of treatment, faster diagnosis, different ways of being seen and so on can have an impact but hearing Salome speak about her experiences as a patient just brought this into sharp relief. Too often we don’t listen to patients enough and one of the themes of the day for me was around the changes that can happen when we do listen to and involve patients in our development and spread of innovation that addresses real problems.

Secondly, the importance of communication, and that it’s not just how we communicate, but what.  The point was raised about behaviour change techniques and how they can be used to enhance the spread and adoption of new stuff.

The third theme was around the perception innovators have of their role in the system. Without exception all the innovators taking part, and all that I spoke with during the breaks, are in this to help people.  One made the point that it was an innovators’ role to join in the gaps in order that patients see the best results from new tech and methodologies.

NHS staff are innovators in their own right, and this was the fourth theme of the day. They deserve huge praise for helping to spread and adopt new innovations at a time of enormous pressure on the system. Health Innovation North celebrated that, and the health innovation networks will continue to support our NHS staff in the development, spread and adoption of innovation.

And, finally, it is recognised that the NHS needs to work in partnership with commercial organisations. The health innovation networks work closely with commercial companies and trade bodies so that patients get the best innovation available. Working with HealthTech and pharmaceutical companies can make a real difference to the ease and the scale of the spread of innovation when we work as partners. On that note, the four northern networks are hugely grateful to Boehringer Ingelheim, Nexus and Hill Dickinson for sponsoring the event and associated happenings. Partnerships can make things happen.

So, a great day, made that way by the hard work of people in the four northern networks, panel members, speakers and sponsors – and attendees of course. If you attended the day I hope you found it useful.  And, if you didn’t, then I hope you’ll attend next year’s Health Innovation North.

If you would like to express your interest in attending next year’s conference, please email Events.Team@healthinnovationnwc.nhs.uk