The power of partnership: HIW publishes 2025-26 Impact Report

We're delighted to launch the Health Innovation Wessex Impact Report for 2025–26, which highlights our collective achievements over the last year. 

Our 2025–26 report reflects the strength of Health Innovation Wessex and the collective effort of our partners across integrated care boards, NHS trusts and primary care, universities and industry. Together, we have accelerated innovation, improved outcomes and supported economic growth, delivering impact that directly aligns with the ambitions of the NHS 10‑Year Health Plan and the UK Life Sciences Sector Vision.

Over the past year, we have focused on the work that matters most: transforming how health and care services find, test, implement and scale evidence‑based innovations that improve lives, strengthen the NHS and contribute to economic growth. 

Our programmes have supported earlier diagnosis, strengthened personalised and preventative care, and enabled the shift towards digitally‑enabled, community‑based services. These are central commitments of the NHS 10‑Year Health Plan, and our delivery model ensures that innovation is not an abstract concept but a practical tool for improving lives.

Our approach is rooted in collaboration. We work across the whole ecosystem with ICBs, provider trusts, primary care, universities, research organisations, local government and industry, to co‑develop solutions that are innovative, scalable and sustainable. This partnership model is essential to realising the Life Sciences Sector Vision, which calls for stronger adoption pathways, better access to real world evidence, and deeper collaboration between the NHS and industry to unlock growth and productivity.

We have continued to invest in our capabilities, particularly in data, digital and genomics. These are not only enablers of innovation; they are the foundations of a modern, responsive and equitable health system. Through platforms such as the Wessex Secure Data Environment and our collaboration with NHS Central and South Genomics, we are harnessing cutting‑edge science to inform new care pathways and accelerate the adoption of life‑changing technologies.

We also recognise that innovation is about people. Our values of inclusivity, collaboration and curiosity are embedded in everything we do. We are committed to fostering a culture where our team, partners and communities feel empowered to look at challenges differently, share ideas and co‑create solutions.

Our mission and our delivery against the national three shifts from hospital to community, analogue to digital and treatment to prevention demonstrate our ongoing commitment to transforming health and care through innovation. Together, this positions Health Innovation Wessex as a trusted leader in our local ecosystem, supporting our partners to deliver solutions that meet the health and care priorities of our population now and in future years.

We hope you enjoy reading this year's impact report. Thank you for working with us, for supporting Health Innovation Wessex and for championing the role of innovation in meeting the challenges in health and care.

Fiona Driscoll, Chair

Nicola Bent, Chief Executive Officer