Industry

We increased the uptake of promising innovations across Wessex by embedding a coordinated, evidence-based innovation network across the healthcare environment. 

AHSNs support innovators to work with health and care systems to identify proven solutions to existing challenges. We work with our partners to:

• understand the needs of the wider NHS system and what innovations might be successfully adopted
• connect people and organisations matching the innovator’s area of need
• share best practice across healthcare organisations
• identify locations and people to participate in trials, pilots and evaluations
• work with our colleagues across the other AHSNs on regional projects.

What was delivered in 2021-22? 

• Alongside direct support for an average of four innovators per week, we held regular health innovation surgeries and hosted the Health Innovation Programme (HIP), an immersive and intensive course for innovators and SMEs starting or building a healthcare business. This programme helped innovators to understand, develop and explain the value of their proposition to the health and care system. Find out more about our support to local innovators Laurence and Amy.

• Our funding support service helped innovators and SMEs to find and apply for grants for product development or evaluation; for example, from the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI), National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the Health Foundation and Innovate UK. Two innovators supported by our Funding Support Service to partner with Wessex AHSN research members were awarded national grant funding of £1.2m and £1.4m.

• One innovator formed a consortium of Wessex research expertise to win £150k funding through the Technology Support Programme (TSP) 2, an initiative co-run by Wessex AHSN and Wessex Clinical Research Network.

• We were integral to the development of the national NHS Innovation Service (NIS), and within that platform we are the lead contractor providing the Needs Assessment Service (NAS).

• Working with Wessex Clinical Research Network (CRN) we have brought together four academic/commercial bid teams for clinical research.

• Our partnership with Wessex Cancer Alliance to accelerate the uptake of innovations leading to earlier cancer diagnosis has enabled a new pathway for patients with suspected lung cancer. The initial cohort of patients have been diagnosed some months earlier than previously possible.

Examples of recent innovator support: 

Behold.ai – Chest x-ray analysis using artificial intelligence technology, reducing specialist workload and speeding up lung cancer diagnosis

We supported Behold.ai to apply for the AI in Health and Social Care Awards for their Red Dot algorithm, securing £1.4m grant funding.

We convened a team of radiologists from University Hospital Southampton (UHS) NHS Foundation Trust who joined the bid leads and provided application and interview support. UHS will be one of the sites benefiting from the £1.4m grant and evaluating patient impact.

Sooba Medical – Urinary stents and catheters developed to improve patient care and reduce financial burdens for healthcare services

We supported Sooba Medical to develop their business model and routes to market through the Health Innovation Programme, and assisted in their bid for an NIHR Product Development Award, culminating in £1.2m grant funding.

S12 Solutions – Supporting the mental health crisis care pathway from point of referral for Mental Health Act assessment to admission to hospital

We supported S12 Solutions with implementation and evaluation. The company has grown from two to 20 staff and is in widespread use across the UK. Watch the founder of S12 Solutions, Amy Manning, talk about Wessex AHSN’s support.

Glyconics – Developing a non-invasive diabetes test providing results at point of care in seconds

We convened an advisory panel, leading Glyconics to win a significant grant of £50,000.