FAQs

What is the role of health innovation networks?

Answer: Spreading innovation, improving health, generating economic growthThere are 15 health innovation networks across England, established by NHS England in 2013 to spread innovation at pace and scale - improving health and generating economic growth.As the only bodies that connect NHS and academic organisations, local...

Answer:

Spreading innovation, improving health, generating economic growth

There are 15 health innovation networks across England, established by NHS England in 2013 to spread innovation at pace and scale - improving health and generating economic growth.

As the only bodies that connect NHS and academic organisations, local authorities, the third sector and industry, we are catalysts that create the right conditions to facilitate change across whole health and social care economies, with a clear focus on improving outcomes for patients.

This means we are uniquely placed to identify and support the adoption of high quality, evidence-based health innovation; driving the adoption and spread of innovative ideas and technologies across large populations.

Although small organisations ourselves – which ensures we remain flexible and responsive to emerging opportunities and challenges – we lead large regional networks.

Hence our impact rests in our ability to bring people, resources and organisations together quickly, delivering benefits that could not be achieved alone.

How are health innovation networks different and distinct?

Answer: Each health innovation network works within its own area to develop projects, programmes and initiatives that reflect the diversity of our local populations and healthcare challenges. However, we all share the following priorities:Promoting economic growth: fostering opportunities for industry to work effectively...

Answer:

Each health innovation network works within its own area to develop projects, programmes and initiatives that reflect the diversity of our local populations and healthcare challenges. However, we all share the following priorities:

Promoting economic growth: fostering opportunities for industry to work effectively with the NHS

Diffusing innovation: creating the right environment, and supporting collaboration across boundaries, in order to adopt and spread innovation at pace and scale

Improving patient safety: using our knowledge, expertise and networks to bring together patients, healthcare staff and partners to determine priorities and develop and implement solutions

Optimising medicine use: ensuring that medication is used to its maximum benefit – improving safety and making efficient use of NHS resources

Improving quality and reducing inequality: by spreading best practice we increase productivity and reduce health inequalities, thereby improving patient outcomes

Putting research into practice: our strong links with academia mean we are uniquely placed to support the translation of research into clinical practice

Collaborating on national programmes: our unified programmes focus on delivery of the SBRI Healthcare initiative (supporting SME interaction), the NHS Innovation Accelerator, Patient Safety Collaboratives and medicines optimisation.

What difference are health innovation networks making?

Answer: Ours is not a short-term challenge but our impact reports demonstrate that we make a difference for patients and the public, for innovators, for clinicians and for the healthcare system. Health Innovation Networks are transforming lives through healthcare innovation.Please follow the links below to find out more...

Answer:

Ours is not a short-term challenge but our impact reports demonstrate that we make a difference for patients and the public, for innovators, for clinicians and for the healthcare system. Health Innovation Networks are transforming lives through healthcare innovation.

Please follow the links below to find out more about how health innovation networks are supporting system-wide health transformation, nationally and regionally.

Health Innovation Wessex Impact Report 2023-24

Health Innovation Networks

Why do you use the Wessex footprint?

Answer: The historic region of Wessex covers Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Dorset and south Wiltshire, and reflects the map of Wessex Deanery, the regional NHS organisation responsible for postgraduate medical training. The geographical area, with a population of 3 million people accessing our services, offers...

The geographical area, with a population of 3 million people accessing our services, offers alignment with the local government areas and allows us to complement the work of several other NHS and research organisations working across the same area.

Who we are

Documents

Health Innovation Wessex Impact Report 2023-24

Health Innovation Wessex Business Plan 2024-25

Key facts

Key Fact 1

10% of the workforce in Wessex is employed in the health economy

Key Fact 2

Wessex boasts over 250 life science companies in medtech, medbiotech, industrial biotech and pharma

Key Fact 3

The region's life sciences industry employs 9,000 and has a turnover of £2.5 billion

Key Fact 4

The region's population of 3 million is served by 2 Integrated Care Systems (plus Salisbury & South Wiltshire), 8 local authorities, 11 NHS providers and 7 higher education institutions.