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New licence, new name

The Health Innovation Network is the new name for the AHSN Network and the collective voice for each of our 15 local health innovation networks across England. Our networks work collaboratively, both nationally and locally, to deliver spread and adoption of new innovation for the benefit of patients and clinicians. Learn more about the new names for many of the local health innovation networks here.

National programme delivers impact for people living with high cholesterol

The Health Innovation Network’s national Lipid Optimisation & Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) programme has delivered huge impact in its goal to reduce the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and its associated health inequalities, according to the programme's new Impact Report.

The report celebrates the collective achievements of the programme, which has increased the detection of people with FH, improved lipid management outcomes, and driven awareness and action with healthcare professionals and our populations about the importance of cholesterol in cardiovascular risk.

Led by Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria, the programme involved the implementation of NICE endorsed national guidance for lipid management and prevention of cardiovascular disease. Discover more and read the Impact Report.

Health Innovation Network success at HSJ Awards

Three local health innovation networks were recognised at the HSJ Awards ceremony (Thursday 16 November 2023). UCLPartners won the 'Medicines, Pharmacy and Prescribing Initiative of the Year Award', while 

Imperial College Partners and Health Innovation West Midlands were both highly commended in the 'Data Driven Transformation' and 'Provider of the Year' categories respectively. Read more here.

World Prematurity Day – Friday 17 November 2023

To mark World Prematurity Day we highlighted projects from across the Network that demonstrate how we are improving outcomes for babies born prematurely. Read about our work and impacts here. 

Recognising excellence in health and care innovation

The Innovate Awards 2023, delivered in partnership with NHS Confederation, were designed to recognise and celebrate excellence in health and care innovation. Find out more about this year's winners. 

Patient Safety Collaboratives continue to support improvement across the healthcare system

The Health Innovation Network supports the delivery of the National Patient Safety Improvement Programme (in support of NHS England’s Patient Safety Strategy) through its 15 regional Patient Safety Collaboratives (PSCs). The programme’s latest progress report for Q1 (April - June 2023) has now been published, highlighting the key impacts of the 15 PSCs. Find out more and read the report.

Study highlights success of PReCePT programme

A new paper published in BJOG: An international Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology highlights the success of a national Health Innovation Network programme, PReCePT, to increase the use of magnesium sulphate to prevent cerebral palsy in premature babies. Read more.

Improving tracheostomy care during Covid

The NHS England National Patient Safety Team has published a case study 

highlighting the impact of a Health Innovation Network-supported programme for hospitals during the pandemic. Improving tracheostomy care during the Covid-19 pandemic highlights how the programme led to a 33-day average reduction in total hospital stay per tracheostomy admission, delivering an estimated national saving of £1.92 million per hospital, per year. Read more.

Tackling blood pressure management

An innovative new approach to blood pressure optimisation has been developed by Health Innovation South West, in partnership with one of its local primary health care providers, to develop new ways of identifying and treating people with hypertension. 

Through an innovative approach to blood pressure optimisation, involving adapting a proactive care framework, teamwork, and supported self-management, the medical centre aimed to increase blood pressure detection and management rates. Read the full case study.

Meet the innovators tackling CVD and chronic conditions

Supporting the NHS to tackle cardiovascular disease is a Network priority. Meet just some of the innovators from our national innovation pipeline, who are helping to tackle this problem, along with other chronic conditions, through innovation: 

Digital innovation should focus on doing one thing well

A new blog written by Dr Rishi Das-Gupta and Kerry Beadling-Barron from 

Health Innovation Network South London delves into the possibilities offered by digital initiatives to enhance the experiences of NHS staff while emphasising the significance of their engagement in the transformation journey. Read the article.

Supporting sustainable innovation in healthcare

Innovation is fundamental in helping the NHS achieve its ambitious sustainability targets. Find out how we’re supporting innovators to produce carbon reduction plans, broker partnerships within the NHS and secure funding in this blog by Pete Waddingham, our Network Net Zero Lead.

Supporting sickle cell disease patients 

Spectra Optia, part of the Accelerated Access Collaborative’s MedTech Funding Mandate policy, is a machine that enables automated red cell exchange for eligible patients with sickle cell disease. Thanks to the Network's support in the rollout, led by Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, hundreds of sickle cell disease patients have access to better care and improved quality of life. Programme Development Lead at Health Innovation Manchester, Mary Aziz, explains how Spectra Optia is benefiting patients. Read Mary’s blog here.

The importance of connecting locally and globally

Des Holden, CEO of Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex, recently attended the Seoul Bio Economy Forum 2023 in South Korea. At the event he gave a presentation about the Health Innovation Network and our work. He’s written a blog about his experience, the themes raised, and what were his key take-home messages. Read the blog here. 

A thirst for change: Keeping care home residents happy and healthy

A senior programme manager from Health Innovation Oxford and Thames Valley was among the contributors to TEDxNHS this autumn, delivering a talk entitled A thirst for change, which is now live on the TEDxNHS channel. Katie Lean spoke about the award-winning Good Hydration! quality improvement initiative co-designed by care home staff and residents, which introduced drinks rounds seven times a day to reduce urinary tract infection rates from almost one every week to one every three months. That in turn led to less need for antibiotics and fewer hospital admissions. These improvements have been sustained. Find out more about the Good Hydration initiative here.

New net zero guide for innovators

A new net zero guide for innovators has been jointly developed by two of our local networks, Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex and Health Innovation Oxford and Thames Valley. Including a step-by-step guide and self-assessment checklist for innovators on achieving net zero, the guide, which can be shared with innovators in your local networks, also signposts to further resources supporting carbon reduction and sustainable development.

Preparing patients  for Structured Medication Review

Alongside partners, we have developed a range of evidenced-based resources to support patients to prepare for a Structured Medication Review (SMR) with their GP, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. Designed to encourage shared decision making about medicines, the NHS-branded resources are free for healthcare professionals to use with patients and are available in a range of formats and languages.

Bridging the Gap NHS Net Zero: Tuesday 28 November 2023

Tickets to our next Bridging the Gap event, NHS Net Zero: Procurement, Supply Chain, and Estates, are now on sale. The event offers health and care innovators and businesses a unique opportunity to engage with NHS stakeholders in the field of net zero initiatives and gain support in navigating the NHS.

Proactive Care Framework for Heart Failure webinar: Thursday 30 November 2023

Local health innovation network, UCLPartners, invites all health and care colleagues involved in primary care transformation to join an online workshop on Thursday 30 November 2023, where it will launch its national Proactive Care Framework for Heart Failure. The framework has been developed to support the circa 600,000 people in the UK living with diagnosed heart failure and supports primary care teams to embed proactive management of patients into routine clinical practice. 

GIANT Health London: Monday 4 - Tuesday 5 December 2023

Join us, along with a number of our innovators, and our partners from the NHS Innovation Service, at GIANT Health London 2023, an in-person networking event for anyone working in the business of health tech and innovation. The event aims to improve the health and well-being of people, by promoting healthcare innovation and supporting health-tech entrepreneurs. Book your tickets here.

Refreshed NICE Advice support service for innovators

NICE calls for AI services testers

Innovator call: DigitalHealth.London Launchpad

Innovator call: NHS Patient Entrepreneur Programme (PEP)

Innovator call: Early cancer diagnosis clinical validation and evaluation