We are part of the national Health Innovation Network, recognised as the innovation arm of the NHS. As part of this network, we support a rich pipeline of demonstrably useful, evidence-based healthcare innovations, enabling these get to patients faster.
Established in 2013, we are now firmly embedded in the West of England’s health and care ecosystem. Membership of our network includes all our local NHS health and care providers, our three integrated care boards and three universities – Bath, West of England and Gloucestershire.
Our aim is to support the creation of a forward-thinking commercial environment in the West of England where the NHS can collaborate effectively with industry for patient benefit, while delivering greater value for the taxpayer and stimulating economic growth.
In 2023/24, our support to innovators enabled over £10 million in financial investment. Our ambition is to enable a further £60 million of economic growth by 2029.
Through our local Innovation Exchange, we are able to articulate health and care needs to industry and provide tailored support to innovators with promising products and services. This includes support to navigate the NHS, secure funding, develop value proposition, assess evidence and cost benefit. www.innovationexchange.co.uk
For later stage innovations, we offer support to partner with our member organisations to accelerate real world evaluation, adoption and spread.
Through our Academy, we foster a culture of learning, collaboration, and knowledge sharing around healthcare innovation and transformation. www.healthinnowest.net/academy
We support a range of clinical networks, through which we learn, engage, collaborate and deliver impact. New for 2024/25 is the launch a new cancer innovation programme with Somerset Wiltshire Avon and Gloucestershire Cancer Alliance to speed up the adoption of innovations in response to local priorities.
We host and coordinate the West of England Patient Safety Collaborative, supporting the ambitions of NHS England’s Patient Safety Improvement Programme.
