NHS and Government back AHSNs to continue to lead innovation, recommissioning for further five years

The Government and NHS England have today confirmed their intention to relicense England’s 15 Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs), to reflect their key role in supporting development and spread of innovation across health services.

Following yesterday’s (25 May) Life Sciences Council meeting, it was formally announced today that NHS England would commission the Networks for five years, until 2028.

Set up in 2013 by NHS England, AHSNs work locally and nationally to support the spread of all types of innovation within the NHS, from new technologies to ways of working and service improvements. Under the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s joint commission - the Office for Life Sciences (OLS) - AHSNs also provide bespoke support to innovators to accelerate promising innovations from development to adoption, and boost economic growth.

AHSNs began working collectively as the national AHSN Network from 2018, when the first set of national programmes were adopted. Since then, AHSNs have delivered 11 national adoption and spread programmes and supported the rapid uptake of 28 NICE-approved products. These initiatives alone have benefited more than 2.3 million patients. AHSNs have also helped to leverage investment of more than £1.8bn for UK Plc in the same timeframe.

Bill Gillespie, Chief Executive of Wessex AHSN said: "Wessex AHSN has always been a network driven by the needs and challenges of its members - NHS organisations and universities in Wessex and the populations they serve. Our impact has been underpinned by the strength of these local relationships. We welcome Government backing for strengthening the local role in integrating research, innovation and adoption; complemented by local networks coming together nationally as a network of networks to deliver national impact."

Professor Gary Ford, Chair of the AHSN Network and Chief Executive of Oxford AHSN said: “It is a testament to the collective impact of the AHSNs over the past 10 years that our commissioners have issued a further licence. We welcome the opportunity and challenge this provides for our teams to identify, develop and spread innovations that meet the priorities of the NHS over the next five years.”  

“The challenges facing the NHS will only be met by widespread adoption of innovation in digital and diagnostic technology and in data to transform clinical pathways and empower patients.”

Matt Whitty, Director of Innovation, Research and Life Sciences for NHS England, said: “The Academic Health Science Networks play a key role in driving the uptake of health innovation and economic growth, enabling patients to benefit from earlier diagnosis, more effective treatments, and faster recovery.” The network will have a critical role to play in supporting the new Integrated Care Systems to adopt innovations and will be aligned to NHS priorities such as tackling health inequalities and fulfilling the Life Science’s Vision to deliver improved public services and grow the economy.”

The new licence will come into effect from 1 October 2023. More information about the roll out of the new licences, priority programmes and collaboration with NHS England and the Office for Life Sciences, will follow during the summer.