The Topol Programme for Digital Fellowships in Healthcare

The recently published Topol Review outlined recommendations to ensure the NHS is the world leader in using innovative technology to benefit patients. It will involve implementing technologies such as genomics, digital medicine, artificial intelligence and robotics at a faster pace and on a greater scale than anywhere else in the world.

This is happening now, and the Topol programme for Digital Fellowships aims to support NHS organisations to invest in clinical staff to develop specialist digital skills, including the use of digital technologies, while giving clinicians enough time outside of clinical commitments to dedicate training for a digital future.

Health Education England is launching 20 new digital fellowships to incorporate digital health expertise within their careers and pursue training in informatics and digital health. This is an exciting opportunity for all NHS clinical staff (AFC Band 6 and above/Post Foundation Training) including doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, dentists, healthcare scientists, pharmacists and others to join the NHS digital revolution. It is an exciting step in how the NHS will prepare staff for a digital future.

What is involved?
Applications are now invited for these Digital Fellowships, which will look at improvement and transformation initiatives most commonly underpinned by digital technologies. The main impetus of the fellowship programme is on transformation of care enabled by technology and the skills, competencies and knowledge to successfully deliver on this.

Your project proposals will need to be submitted in advance as part of the application process to show that prospective fellows have discussed the potential projects within your organisations.

More information:

• To find out more, and apply, visit Health Education England' page here.
  
  
• If you are interested in working up a local potential project here in Wessex, please contact Rachel Dominey, associate director of primary care, here at Wessex AHSN.