AHSN Network impact report celebrates 10 years of improving health outcomes through innovation

The AHSN Network has published its 2022-23 Impact Report which outlines how, together with England’s fifteen Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs), it has transformed the way that the NHS identifies, adopts and spreads promising innovations, improving health outcomes and supporting economic growth.

The report celebrates 10 years since AHSNs were first created by NHS England and showcases the collective impact of national initiatives, which have benefitted more than 2.3 million patients and generated more than £1.8 billion of investment for the UK economy since 2018 – the second five-year licence period.

The report recognises the positive impact and contribution of Wessex AHSN and its health and care partners, spotlighting a number of projects and programmes delivered in the last financial year. 

It includes a case study on how the Wessex-led FeNO (Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide) programme has transformed asthma care through improved access to diagnostics and innovative treatments, and highlights the vital role of Wessex AHSN's Primary and Community Care Programme in identifying innovations which can help meet the priorities set out in the NHS Long Term Plan.

The report summarises the collective impact of the AHSNs, achieved through partnership working, delivering national programmes and initiatives, improving patient safety, supporting innovators and addressing key cross-cutting priorities.

Partnering for success

The AHSNs are uniquely placed to collaborate across all sectors with a role in health innovation, transformation and improvement. Examples of how the Network works strategically with partners from across the health and care system, industry and academia to maximise the impact it has for its stakeholders, are included in the report.

National programmes

The report also features innovation programmes commissioned by NHS England over the last year, which have benefitted more than 530,000 patients. This includes work to improve ADHD diagnosis in children and young people; accelerate access to treatment for young people with eating disorders; improve asthma pathways; reduce overprescribing of medications; transform wound care; and support the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease (CVD). 

Improving safety

AHSNs host the 15 Patient Safety Collaboratives (PSCs) across England. Commissioned by NHS England, the PSCs identify and deploy safer care initiatives throughout the health and care system, through the delivery of the National Patient Safety Improvement Programme.

In the last year, PSCs have focused on priority areas including managing deterioration in care homes and maternal and neonatal safety. The report shows that work to support managing deterioration in 11,621 care homes has prevented up to 57,000 emergency admissions. 

Supporting innovators

AHSNs are also commissioned by the Government’s Office for Life Sciences (OLS) to support health innovators to discover, develop and deploy innovations that answer NHS and social care challenges and priorities.

In 2022-23, the AHSNs supported 2,831 companies with innovative health and care products and solutions. As a result of this support, £428 million of investment has been leveraged, and more than 1,329 jobs have been either created or protected.

Cross cutting priorities

Several themes underpin the AHSN Network’s work programmes and priorities, which are presented in the report. These include equality, diversity and inclusion; patient and public involvement, environmental sustainability, digital solutions and artificial intelligence, health inequalities, workforce and improving patient safety.

Gary Ford, Chair of the AHSN Network and Chief Executive of Oxford AHSN, said:

“In our first decade we have improved health outcomes and supported economic growth, both individually and working together as the AHSN Network.

“As we begin our third five-year licence and rename as Health Innovation Networks, I would like to thank all my colleagues from across the Network and partner organisations for their dedication and support.

"The challenges facing the NHS can only be solved by harnessing the potential that research and innovation offers to provide better individualised person-centred care and maximise the skills and talents of our workforce.

“We will continue to champion and support scale-up of the best healthcare innovations to improve health, support the NHS and achieve economic growth.”

Read the AHSN Network 2022-23 Impact Report here.