AHSN Network

In this episode, Nicole McGlennon, Managing Director of Health Innovation East Midlands, is joined by Dr Amit Aggarwal, Executive Director of Medical Affairs and Strategic Partnerships at the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI). Dr Amit shares more about the ABPI's mission to make the UK the best place to research, develop and use the medicines of the future and explains the importance of the pharmaceutical industry to the UK and its economic benefit The discussion shares examples of collaborative working across the innovation ecosystem and the barriers to adopting innovation.    It also covers a new piece of guidance which the ABPI has launched, in partnership with NHS Confederation, on how to develop effective industry partnerships - a practical how-to guide both for companies and NHS organisations about how you can set up a partnership. You can find the guidance here. 

In this final episode, we hear from some of those who've contributed to the podcast series and get reaction and comment from Tayo Owodunni, the NHS Programme Manager for Health Innovation Network Commissions.   Tayo, who has a public health background and previously provided programme management for the COVID-19 multi-agency test and trace programme, explains where the idea for NIPP came from and his involvement in its rollout. Hear Tayo's reaction to discussions in earlier episodes in this series about programmes that are improving disparities in healthcare including remote monitoring, community engagement, and digital technology. We are reminded of the importance of co-production and community involvement in addressing health inequalities through the example of the Heal-D programme, which is a response to people of African and Caribbean heritage being at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.  We close with an insight into Tayo's thoughts on what the future holds for NIPP and how he sees the programme progressing over the coming months and years. In conversation with Nigel Thompson is: Tayo Owodunni, NHS Programme Manager for Health Innovation Network Commissions

In the second part of our NHS NIPP podcast about reducing impact on hospitals, we explore innovative approaches to patient care post-COVID-19.  We are joined by Professor Dame Caroline Watkins, Professor of Stroke and Older People's Care within the University of Central Lancashire's Faculty of Health and Care for an insightful discussion on collaborative team efforts in the Northwest, specifically in neonatal care, highlighting initiatives to reduce preterm babies' hospital stays by offering additional support at home and highlighting the importance of understanding needs and tailoring support to suit different family circumstances. Stuart Jeffery, a Senior Research Fellow at the National Institute for Health and Care Research's Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex (NIHR ARC Kent, Surrey and Sussex) at the University of Kent, shares insights into a discharge-to-assess model for older patients, emphasising the need for improved efficiency and improving access to healthcare. The discussion delves into the role of technology with considerations for remote monitoring and digital advancements and highlights barriers to be overcome, such as culture, funding and governance. In conversation with Nigel Thompson are: Professor Dame Caroline Watkins, Professor of Stroke and Older People's Care within the University of Central Lancashire's Faculty of Health and Care ,one of just two nursing professors of stroke care in the UK, and Implementation lead for the National Institute for Health and Care Research's Applied Research Collaboration North West Coast (NIHR ARC North West Coast). Stuart Jeffery, Senior Research Fellow at the National Institute for Health and Care Research's Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex (NIHR ARC KSS) at the University of Kent

Hear about NHS NIPP initiatives that are reducing impact on hospitals and addressing health inequalities.  Louise Hall, Evaluation Lead for Health Innovation South West explores their Community Assessment & Treatment Unit (CATU) initiative to enable frail, older patients to be treated closer to home while also reducing hospital admissions. In Sheffield, a different approach is being taken and Professor Suzanne Mason from the University of Sheffield's School of Health and Related Research discusses how multidisciplinary teams working in urgent care hubs are reducing hospital admissions, mainly in older people, by accepting referrals for patients who don't need to go to hospital.  Professor Dan Lasserson, who is the only Professor of Ambulatory Care in the UK and is based at the University of Warwick, focuses on a research programme examining hospital-level care at home for frail older adults.  All three emphasise the importance of understanding culture change in healthcare and the importance of different groups working together to meet diverse needs and enable sustainable innovation. These initiatives aim to improve patient and carer experiences and offer solutions to health inequalities by providing effective care outside of traditional hospital settings. In conversation with Nigel Thompson are: Louise Hall, Evaluation Lead from the Health Innovation South West team (before joining the team in 2016, Louise worked in the charity sector, leading evaluation activities and analysis at Marie Curie and Co-ordinated Action Against Domestic Abuse). Professor Suzanne Mason is from the University of Sheffield's School of Health and Related Research. She is Deputy Director and Urgent Care theme lead at the National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration Yorkshire and Humber (NIHR ARC Yorkshire and Humber) and the national NIHR ARCs lead for Urgent and Emergency Care. With close ties to Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, she's also a consultant in the emergency department at the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Professor Dan Lasserson is the only Professor of Ambulatory Care in the UK and is based at the University of Warwick. He is Acute Care Interfaces theme lead at the National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration West Midlands (NIHR ARC West Midlands).

In this episode, four guest discuss health inequalities in England. Listen in as Aoife Molloy, NHS England's Senior Clinical Advisor for Health and Equality, and Jo Dumville, Professor of Applied Research at the University of Manchester, where she leads the Manchester Wounds Research Group, discuss healthcare inequalities in England.  They emphasise that these inequalities are systematic, avoidable and result in unfair differences in health outcomes among different groups of people. They reference the COVID-19 pandemic and the rapid implementation of vaccination programmes. The conversation moves into how the Core 20 plus 5 strategy, which is taking learning from COVID-19 into the longer term, aims to address inequalities by focusing on the 20% most deprived in the country and five key clinical areas through community engagement, national support programmes and by tracking inequalities improvement. We are also joined by Sophie Lowry, Implementation and Involvement Manager from the Health Innovation Network South London and Sandra Tomlinson, who is a lay educator in the HEAL-D programme, which is a response to people of African and Caribbean heritage being at higher risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes, particularly at a younger age than other groups. They discuss the success of the HEAL-D programme (Healthy Eating and Active Lifestyles for Diabetes) which addresses a lack of awareness about food choices, and the importance of community involvement in its design. Hear about the role NHS NIPP has played in evaluating and scaling up HEAL-D. In conversation with Nigel Thompson are: Aoife Molloy, NHS England's Senior Clinical Advisor for Health and Equality  Jo Dumville, Professor of Applied Research at the University of Manchester and deputy lead for Evaluation at the National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration Greater Manchester (NIHR ARC Greater Manchester) Sophie Lowry, Implementation and Involvement Manager from the Health Innovation Network South London and part of the National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration South London's (NIHR ARC South London) Implementation and Involvement team.  Sandra Tomlinson, who is a facilitator for the HEAL-D programme

In this edition we discuss how digital monitoring is making a difference and hear the experiences of three guests.  Hear a conversation that navigates through the healthcare disparities highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic and moves on to discuss the critical role played by NHS NIPP in evaluating innovative projects, revealing that overcoming cultural acceptance challenges is more pivotal than financial or technological hurdles in healthcare innovation.  The discussion includes real-world examples from Health Innovation Oxford and Thames Valley's virtual stroke clinics and Health Innovation Wessex's exploration of remote monitoring for frailty in an ageing population. A theme throughout is how adopting digital monitoring innovations is a team game, requiring a balanced approach between virtual and face-to-face care, and understanding what's most important to patients, carers and doctors. In conversation with Nigel Thompson are: Dr David Kryl, Director of Insight at Health Innovation Wessex Dr Jennifer Lynch, Senior Research Fellow and project lead at the National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration East of England Tracey Marriott, Director of Clinical Innovation Adoption, Health Innovation Oxford and Thames Valley 

Patient safety programmes form a large part of the AHSN Network's work – a refreshed patient safety plan was delivered earlier this year – and patients play a central role in their development. Greg Stringer talks to four individuals about their contributions to patient engagement. Wendy Westoby is a stroke survivor and Heart Hero who campaigns to raise awareness of high blood pressure. Debbie Parkinson is Public Involvement Lead at the Innovation Agency and organises Heart Hero activities. Graham Smith is a patient who suffers from chronic pain. Natasha Callender is a Senior Project Manager at Health Innovation Network and runs a project to which Graham has contributed. Read about the AHSN Network's patient and public involvement work: https://www.ahsnnetwork.com/priorities/patient-and-public-involvement-and-co-production/ Read the AHSN Network's Patient safety in partnership report: https://www.ahsnnetwork.com/national-publications/patient-safety-in-partnership-june-2023/ Find your regional AHSN: https://www.ahsnnetwork.com/about-us/your-local-ahsn/  

Climate change causes health emergencies, with more intense storms and floods, more frequent heatwaves and the spread of infectious disease. We hear how the NHS is aiming for a net zero carbon emission target, to save lives and protect the planet. Our guests are UCLPartners Chief Medical Officer Dr Dominique Allwood; AHSN Network Net Zero Lead Pete Waddingham; and Greener NHS Deputy Director Dr Natalia Kurek – talking to Caroline Kenyon. Useful resources: Delivering a Net Zero NHS https://www.england.nhs.uk/greenernhs/a-net-zero-nhs/ https://nhsaccelerator.com/news-item/nhs-innovation-accelerator-nia-partners-with-greener-nhs-to-help-fellows-get-climate-ready/ UCLPartners Climate Collaborative – Connecting for Change to help achieve NHS net zero - UCLPartners Climate - UCLPartners Contact details for speakers: natalia.kurek@nhs.net pete.waddingham@yhahsn.com Dominique.Allwood@uclpartners.com

Innovations which improve efficiency but fail to reduce health inequalities ‘hit the target but miss the point' according to the AHSN Network's vice chair Richard Stubbs. He is joined by three people key to the delivery of AHSN Network innovation programmes which have had a big impact on targeting parts of the population which often miss out when new products or services are introduced. After Richard Stubbs, who is also chief executive of Yorkshire and Humber AHSN, we hear from Sally Irwin of the Health Innovation Network on ‘Healthy Eating and Active Lifestyles for Diabetes (HEAL-D) for adults of African or Caribbean heritage'; Laura Boyd of UCLPartners re the National Blood Pressure Optimisation Programme; and Cathy McCabe of South West AHSN on ‘Keeping urgent care in the community: How Community Assessment and Treatment Units can enable systems to manage urgent care for the frail and elderly closer to home', in conversation with Caroline Kenyon. The episode was recorded at NHS ConfedExpo 2023 following a session in the Innovator Zone Theatre. Useful links: How AHSNs are addressing health inequalities: https://www.ahsnnetwork.com/priorities/health-inequalities/ HEAL-D website BMJ Open article: Mixed-methods implementation study of a virtual culturally tailored diabetes self-management programme for African and Caribbean communities (HEAL-D) in south London and its scaling up across NHS regions in England: study protocol HEAL-D case study: NHS England » Addressing health inequalities through co-developing the Healthy Eating & Active Lifestyles for Diabetes (HEAL-D) programme Community Assessment & Treatment Units (CATUs) - The South West Academic Health Science Network (SWAHSN) Blood Pressure Optimisation Impact report: ahsnnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/AHSN_BPO_Report_Final_.pdf?trk=public_post_comment-text Proactive care frameworks: Proactive care frameworks - UCLPartners  Size of the prize: Size of the Prize for high blood pressure (uclpartners.com) 

Virtual wards, remote monitoring and automation have been adopted at speed during and since Covid. In this episode we hear about the benefits and the lessons learned – and the potential to do much more to benefit both patients and staff. We hear from Jenni West, Innovation Agency Associate Director of Digital Transformation on evaluating the benefits of virtual wards; Sam Hayes, Consultant Physiotherapist at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital on digitising pulmonary rehabilitation services; and Dr Theodora Ephson, Head of Growth at Ufonia Ltd on automating routine cataract appointments using artificial intelligence. Our guests are in conversation with Caroline Kenyon. The episode was recorded at NHS ConfedExpo 2023 following a session in the Innovator Zone Theatre. Find your local AHSN:  https://www.ahsnnetwork.com/about-us/your-local-ahsn/ Ufonia Ltd: https://ufonia.com/  

One of the many hurdles an innovator must navigate in the NHS is the need for evidence. We hear from two innovators who have succeeded in proving the impact of their solutions; and from an AHSN leader who helps innovators to secure real world evaluation in order to progress their products. In conversation with Caroline Kenyon are Dr Neville Young of Yorkshire and Humber AHSN; Dr Greg Burch of Tiny Medical Apps; and Martin Eades of Priory Medical Group. The episode was recorded at NHS ConfedExpo 2023 following a presentation in the Innovator Zone Theatre. NHS Innovation Accelerator: https://nhsaccelerator.com/ NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme: https://www.england.nhs.uk/aac/what-we-do/how-can-the-aac-help-me/clinical-entrepreneur-programme/ NHS Innovation Service: https://innovation.nhs.uk/ Find your local AHSN:  https://www.ahsnnetwork.com/about-us/your-local-ahsn/ Digital Health Passport: https://digitalhealthpassport.co/ Klinik's AI patient triage system saves PCN £300,000 case study: https://www.yhahsn.org.uk/how-we-can-help-you/industry/case-studies/using-ai-to-triage-patients-provide-better-patient-experience-and-reduce-pressure-on-frontline-staff/ 

It's fantastic to create an innovation and get it into practice with support from innovation systems and startup funding; but how is it sustained beyond its initial launch? In this episode we hear how two innovators have been supported and how national innovation schemes are helping them to accelerate their adoption and spread. In conversation with Caroline Kenyon are Konrad Dobschuetz of the NHS Innovation Accelerator and UCLPartners; Antoinette Honegan of Muther Tongue; and Piyush Mahapatra of Open Medical. The episode was recorded at NHS ConfedExpo 2023 following a theatre session. Useful links: NHS Innovation Accelerator: https://nhsaccelerator.com/ NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme: https://nhscep.com/ Open Medical Ltd: https://www.openmedical.co.uk/ Muther Tongue: https://www.muthertongue.co.uk/ Find your local AHSN:  https://www.ahsnnetwork.com/about-us/your-local-ahsn

The AHSN Network launched a refreshed Patient Safety Plan at NHS ConfedExpo 2023, reflecting progress made across focus areas including managing deterioration in care homes; maternity and neonatal health; medicines safety; mental health; and system safety.  Caroline Kenyon talks to four leaders responsible for delivering the plan across the country, Tasha Swinscoe, Alison White, Katie Whittle and Jodie Mazar. Read the Patient safety in partnership report. Evaluating Community Assessment and Treatment Units (CATUs) in Cornwall - Annual Review (swahsn.com) FutureNHS: https://future.nhs.uk/ahsnsafety/groupHome Find your local AHSN:  https://www.ahsnnetwork.com/about-us/your-local-ahsn/

You've got a great idea for an innovation which could help the NHS, but don't know where to get support from or how to develop it. Introducing the NHS Innovation Service - a new service bringing together the expertise of leading healthcare organisations, offering joined-up support and tailored advice for innovators, in one place.  Matt Newman, Deputy Director of the Accelerated Access Collaborative, is leading on the development of the NHS Innovation Service which aims to get more innovations to clinicians and patients faster.  Our reporter Nigel Thompson chatted to Matt at HETT in London to find out more about why the service has been developed, the support on offer and how it aims to accelerate the uptake of innovation.  

This episode explores how gathering real-world evidence and evaluation is an important part of encouraging adoption and spread of innovation in the health and care sector. Dr Nev Young talks about the publication of a new real-world evaluation guide for innovators released by the AHSN Network, we hear from Lee Omar, Founder and CEO of Safe Steps about how it has helped their business thrive, and Vandana Ayyar Gupta, Scientific Adviser at NICE on their perspective.

Across the AHSN Network, work is underway to foster better relations with healthtech companies with the aim of enabling patients to benefit from innovations. We've helped introduce ground-breaking products and services which are already adding value across healthcare. At ConfedExpo in June 2022, our reporter Nigel Thompson caught up with Neil Barnfather from Goodmaps. The company have been assisted by Wessex AHSN to share technology which enables independence and aids navigation for anyone whether blind, deaf, mobility impaired or those wanting to find an easier way to get from A to B.

How do you help people from all walks of life gain equal access to medical help and advice? That's an issue that was discussed at ConfedExpo by two people who have collaborated in one part of England to make a difference. Yorkshire is home to a diverse population and in one area of health – asthma – one consultant has taken a stand when it comes to ensuring all have access to easy to understand advice. Dr Llinos Jones, a respiratory consultant with Mid-Yorkshire NHS Trust, is opting not to prescribe medicines which are not available with multi-lingual guidance notes. Now, thanks to a collaboration with Yorkshire & Humber AHSN, she says she's no longer ‘a lone voice' as Nigel Thompson reports.

Environmental sustainability: a phrase used widely in industry and now gaining traction within the NHS. But how can the health and care sector be truly environmentally sustainable? That's the challenge facing Kathy Scott, who as well as serving as Deputy Chief Executive of the Yorkshire and Humber AHSN is also the Network's lead on environmental sustainability, and Dr Nick Watts, the Chief Sustainability Officer for the NHS. Our reporter Nigel Thompson met up with both at ConfedExpo in Liverpool to ask them more about the challenges faced and the early signs of sustainability success.

A treatment for patients at high risk of having a heart attack or stroke is now available for prescribing in primary care, yet uptake among GPs has been slow.  Inclisiran was approved for use by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in late 2021 and AHSNs are helping local teams to develop different models of Inclisiran delivery. Inclisiran bridges a gap in the lipid management pathway, offering an additional medication to use alongside statins and other lipid-lowering products used in primary care. Trials show that when a patient is receiving statins as part of their treatment and is prescribed Inclisiran, their low-density lipoprotein level (ldl) reduces by around 50 per cent. In this episode, Dr Phil Jennings explores the science behind Inclisiran and the evidence of its effectiveness. His guests are Professor Kausik Ray, Professor of Public Health, Honorary Consultant Cardiologist and Director of Imperial Centre for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at Imperial College London; and to Dr Carl Deaney, a GP in Lincolnshire.  This podcast has been created to inform healthcare professionals only, to support them to roll-out the treatment.

For entrepreneurs looking to spread the word about their innovation, the NHS Innovation Accelerator are now looking for new businesses to work with. From 1 September 2022 the organisation, commissioned by the Accelerated Access Collaborative (AAC) at NHS England and NHS Improvement, are welcoming applications from people keen to spread their good ideas further. The criteria is straightforward and the benefits are significant. Our reporter Nigel Thompson met up with Suzanne Ali-Hassan deputy director of the NHS Innovation Accelerator at ConfedExpo in Liverpool, and also heard the experiences of an innovator who has already become part of the programme.

A system which can analyse a CT scan of a heart within four hours is helping patients to avoid unnecessary procedures and clinicians to quickly identify the right treatment. The HeartFlow FFRCT Analysis helps clinicians to determine, vessel by vessel, both the extent of an artery's narrowing and the impact that the narrowing has on blood flow to the heart. HeartFlow is supported by the NHS Accelerated Access Collaborative's MedTech Funding Mandate and AHSNs are helping to increase its use across the country. In this episode, Dr Phil Jennings visits the first centre to use HeartFlow, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to meet Consultant Cardiologist Dr Tim Fairbairn. Useful links: About the MedTech Funding Mandate: https://www.england.nhs.uk/aac/what-we-do/how-can-the-aac-help-me/the-medtech-funding-mandate/ About HeartFlow: https://www.heartflow.com/uk/ How the AHSN Network supports the MedTech Funding Mandate: https://www.ahsnnetwork.com/accelerated-access-collaborative/medtech-funding-mandate To contact our podcast guest Consultant Cardiologist Dr Tim Fairbairn, email Timothy.Fairbairn@lhch.nhs.uk.

In this episode, our host Dr Hasan Chowhan talks to Dr Sushma Sundaresh, a Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist in Bromley to investigate how mental health issues can affect new parents, with a particular focus on the importance of addressing health inequalities. Wendy Powell from MUTU System also joins to tell us about their pre and post-natal fitness programme, and Alison Baum tells us about Baby Buddy, an app to support parents provided by Best Beginnings. 

A small, portable device that can zap away excruciating headaches is proving to be a life-saver for thousands of sufferers. GammaCore is supported through the NHS MedTech Funding Mandate, increasing availability for those diagnosed with cluster headaches. In this podcast we hear from sufferer Andreea Duca who says her life was saved by GammaCore – and from a neurologist who is the UK's biggest prescriber of the device, Dr Nick Silver of The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust.  They are talking to podcast host Dr Phil Jennings, chief executive of the Innovation Agency and the lead for the AHSN Network on the Accelerated Access Collaborative Rapid Uptake Products programme and MedTech Funding Mandate. Useful links:  The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust comprehensive guide to migraine: www.bit.ly/migrainebooklet  The Migraine Trust www.migrainetrust.org  Migraine Action http://www.migraine.org.uk  The Brain Charity www.thebraincharity.org.uk Organisation for the Understanding of Cluster Headache (OUCH UK) www.ouchuk.org  The British Association for the Study of Headache www.bash.org.uk 

In this episode, our host Dr Hasan Chowhan meets with fellow GP Dr Simon Dunn to discuss the increased use of remote health technology, in particular the successful implementation of Covid Oximetry@home in his Clinical Commissioning Group (Kent & Medway). Hasan also investigates other remote health technology from Whzan, Tytocare and HCI Digital, looking at how we can offer solutions that work for everyone.

More than 100 hospital trusts in England have adopted a device that improves the experience of patients – and saves money for the NHS. SecuraCath secures central venous catheters without requiring sutures or adhesives, improving patient safety and experience. It's been spread by the country's 15 AHSNs through the Accelerated Access Collaborative's Innovation and Technology Payment programme and is now supported through the Med Tech Funding Mandate. It was first used in the UK by the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, after being taken up by Clinical Interventions Lead Nurse Carol McCormick. In this episode, Carol talks to Dr Phil Jennings as part of a series of podcasts about innovations being fast-tracked into use in the NHS. To contact Carol with any questions about introducing SecurAcath, she can be emailed at: carol.mccormick3@nhs.net. Read more here on the AHSN Network website: https://www.ahsnnetwork.com/more-than-100-nhs-trusts-now-using-ahsn-supported-medical-device-to-secure-catheters-more-effectively Find out more about the AAC Rapid Uptake Products programme here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/aac/what-we-do/what-innovations-do-we-support/rapid-uptake-products/

The third episode in a short series focusing on the AHSN Network at #HETT21. Our roving reporter, Nigel Thompson, interviews Neville Young, Director of Enterprise and Innovation at Yorkshire & Humber AHSN and Darren Crombie from Bridgit Care, one of the innovators hosted in the AHSN Network innovator zone. They discuss how AHSNs support innovators.

The second episode in a short series focusing on the AHSN Network at #HETT21. Our roving reporter, Nigel Thompson, interviews Tim Robinson, Commercial Director from East Midlands AHSN and Pamela Penn from Spirit Digital, one of the innovators hosted in the AHSN Network innovator zone. They discuss how AHSNs support innovators.

The first episode in a short series focusing on the AHSN Network at #HETT21 and the associated themes. Featuring AHSN-supported innovators and AHSN experts on their take on this year's show.

It's suspected that 30 per cent of 5.4 million patients currently diagnosed with asthma in the UK have been misdiagnosed.  The NHS spends £1.1 billion on asthma treatment and management annually, with 90 per cent of this cost going directly on medication, including the prescription of steroid inhalers.  In this episode, we hear about a programme to improve the diagnosis and management of asthma within primary care, involving the spread of a breathing test called FeNO.  This test looks at how much nitric oxide – a type of gas – is in your breath when you breath out and can show the level of inflammation in the lungs. The test is easy to do, you simply breath into a tube - and it takes less than a minute. FeNO testing is a key piece in the diagnostic jigsaw and can help improve care for people with asthma. Host Dr Phil Jennings talks to severe asthma sufferer Emma Thompson and Carol Stonham, a Senior Nurse Practitioner and the Executive Chair of the Primary Care Respiratory Society. Carol is a member of the national FeNO programme, one of the Rapid Uptake Product programmes, run by the NHS England Accelerated Access Collaborative with the support of the AHSN Network. Find out more about the Rapid Uptake Products (RUP) programme, designed to support stronger adoption and spread of proven innovations. Professionals can access a wide range of support tools for implementing FeNO testing, on the Wessex AHSN website.

Around 1,400 people each year die from a severe asthma attack; and asthma deaths are 50 per cent more likely in poorest areas compared with the richest. Now, people with severe asthma are being offered a newer type of treatment alongside their usual asthma medicines. These are known as monoclonal antibodies, also referred to as biologics. Biologics are a game changer for people whose lives have been blighted by asthma, helping them to live normal lives – and reducing the risk of a fatal attack.  We hear from Joanne Beecroft who has been taking biologics; and from asthma doctor Dr Hitasha Rupani who is leading a national programme to increase uptake of the medicines, run by the NHS Accelerated Access Collaborative with the support of the AHSN Network. The national programme, known as the Rapid Uptake Products programme, focuses on a number of products which have been proved to significantly improve care and reduce NHS costs. Our guests talk to Dr Phil Jennings, AHSN Network Lead for the Rapid Uptake Products. Find out more about the AAC Rapid Uptake Products programme here.

In this episode our host Dr Hasan Chowhan delves into the NHS Innovation Accelerator and Digital Health.London Accelerator - two programmes run by the AHSN Network to help fast track health innovators to meet the challenges facing the NHS and social care system today. What do they offer innovators? Which one should you apply for? Do they really help? Hasan finds out by questioning one of the AHSN Network's Commercial Directors, Anna King (from the Health Innovation Network - south London AHSN.) Hasan also catches up with super successful Accelerator alumni: Tom Whicher from Dr Doctor; Charlotte Wood from Oxehealth; and Carly Edwards from S12 Solutions; who have some interesting insights and inspiring stories.

One of the causes of heart attack and stroke is a genetic condition called Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH), which creates an abnormal level of cholesterol in the blood.   A 34-year old woman in Carlisle, Ciara Wannop, didn't know she had the condition until she had a heart attack while 26 weeks' pregnant. She feels lucky to have had an early warning of a potentially life-limiting condition.   In this podcast, she is joined by Dr Youssef Beaini who is the clinical lead of a national programme from the NHS Accelerated Access Collaborative, to help reduce heart disease.   Called the Rapid Uptake Products programme, which is delivered by the AHSN Network, it focuses on a number of products which have been proved to significantly improve care and reduce NHS costs.   Our guests talk to Dr Phil Jennings, AHSN Network Lead for the Rapid Uptake Products.

In this episode, Dr Hasan Chowhan explores the challenges facing pulmonary rehab services, which have been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Greater strain will continue on these services as we support COVID patients with longer term respiratory problems. So what can innovators do to help? Listen and find out... Dr Chowhan interviews Kelly Redden-Rowley, a Respiratory Physiotherapist and Head of Community Respiratory Service at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals Trust. We also hear about exciting innovations from: Jan Van Aken from Spirit Digital; Kevin Auton from Aseptika, Simon Taylor from Rehab Guru and Farhan Amin from Concept Health. 

In this episode we chat to Dr Owen Bowden-Jones, a psychiatrist with more than 20 years' experience of helping people with mental health and substance misuse problems. He is also the founder of the Club Drug Clinic and author of 'The Drug Conversation'.We also hear from the innovators behind the Smoke Free app, Kontigo Care and Build on Belief helping those with addiction related problems.

In this episode, Kevin Brooks, a bids specialist working for Wessex AHSN (https://wessexahsn.org.uk/) , gives listeners some hugely helpful tips on how to be successful in applying for health and care innovation funding.

Since Covid-19 hit the UK in early 2020, health and care services have digitised at a dramatic pace.  When the crisis is over, a number of questions will need to be answered: for example, was the technology deployed in the most effective way; were downsides addressed; what further changes are needed to achieve full benefits; and how do providers protect the interests of particular groups?    In this podcast, Dr Hasan Chowhan interviews Ben Collins, Project Director at The King’s Fund, to discuss these questions and his research findings published in a recent report: ‘Technology and innovation for long-term health conditions.’   The paper considers four innovation examples from the United Kingdom (UK) and the Nordic countries that use digital technology to support more ambitious transformations of care. One such innovation is Patients Know Best - their CEO Mo Al Ubaydli also joins the podcast to tell us how his company has succeeded, and gives insights into how to move forward and make the changes necessary to improve future care.      Read the King's Fund report here (https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/technology-innovation-long-term-health-conditions)

At the start of the Covid-19 outbreak, NHSX (https://www.nhsx.nhs.uk/) , the AHSN Network (https://www.ahsnnetwork.com/) , PUBLIC (https://www.public.io/) and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-housing-communities-and-local-government) launched #TechForce19 to find technology that could help vulnerable people during the pandemic. In this series of three podcasts, hear from the companies who were selected to receive nationwide support and funding to take their innovations to the next level. Episode 3 is the final episode in the TechForce series and features stories from Chanua (https://chanua.co.uk/) , PeopleToo (https://www.peopletoo.co.uk/) / Novoville (https://www.novoville.com/) , Alcuris (https://www.alcuris.co.uk/) , Birdie (https://birdie.care/) and Aparito (https://www.aparito.com/) .

At the start of the Covid-19 outbreak, NHSX (https://www.nhsx.nhs.uk/) , the AHSN Network (https://www.ahsnnetwork.com/) , PUBLIC (https://www.public.io/) and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-housing-communities-and-local-government) launched #TechForce19 to find technology that could help vulnerable people during the pandemic. In this series of three podcasts, hear from the companies who were selected to receive nationwide support and funding to take their innovations to the next level. Episode 2 features stories from Ampersand (https://www.ampersandhealth.co.uk/) , SureCert (https://www.surecert.com/) , Vine Health (https://www.vinehealth.ai/) , Team Kinetic (https://teamkinetic.co.uk/) and Feebris (http://feebris.com/) .

At the start of the Covid-19 outbreak, NHSX (https://www.nhsx.nhs.uk/) , the AHSN Network (https://www.ahsnnetwork.com/) , PUBLIC (https://www.public.io/) and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-housing-communities-and-local-government) launched #TechForce19 to find technology that could help vulnerable people during the pandemic. In this series of three podcasts, hear from the companies who were selected to receive nationwide support and funding to take their innovations to the next level. 

The mental health sector is under more pressure than ever, with our society facing extraordinary challenges during the Covid-19 outbreak. In this episode, our host Dr Hasan Chowhan explores innovation in mental health care for adults. Vick Haworth from Isorropia Foundation (https://isorropia.uk/) joins him to talk about their new successful approach to treating patients on the Isle of Wight, we hear from Brain in Hand (https://braininhand.co.uk/) 's Louise Morpeth about the technology they use to support those with autism, and Caroline Gadd tells us about MaST (https://www.otsukahealthsolutions.com/our-products) , an effective system to help community mental health teams better manage caseloads and easily identify priority cases. 

This episode was produced by The Innovation Agency, the Academic Health Science Network for the north west coast.

Leading authority on stroke medicine, Professor Gary Ford CBE joins the podcast to describe the big challenges facing the NHS in the field of cardiovascular health and what we're doing to innovate.  Did you know that blood pressure can now be measured using a smartphone camera? Hear about this groundbreaking technology from Xim, plus AliveCor – the story of a pocket-sized ECG that’s gone global, and Oxford Heartbeat’s new software that can predict the success or failure of stents during heart surgery. 

Breast surgeon with breast cancer, Dr Liz O'Riordan, explores NHS innovation needs in cancer diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation with our host Dr Hasan Chowhan. We hear from innovators using artificial intelligence for diagnosis, plus apps supporting patient journeys and detecting skin cancer. If you are an innovator working in this clinical field, there is lots to learn in this podcast.

Episode 1 of the Innovation Exchange podcast explores the challenges facing our health and care service in relation to ageing. NHS England's Clinical Director for Older People, Professor Martin Vernon joins our host Dr Hasan Chowhan, plus we hear about exciting innovations MySense (https://www.mysense.ai/) , Safe Steps (http://www.safesteps.tech/) , Droplet (https://www.droplet-hydration.com/) and Escape Pain (https://escape-pain.org/) that could change the way we look after our health as we age.

This session explores how AHSNs are ideally placed to stimulate innovation which has the potential to be scaled up for spread. Gain an understanding of the role of the AHSN Network in stimulating innovation in relation to patient safety and, through examples, delegates will have an appreciation of the range and breadth of AHSN safety programmes. Understand the contribution the AHSN Network can make to achieving the ambition of the NHS patient safety strategy.

Piers Ricketts – Chair AHSN Network and Chief Executive Eastern AHSN Dr Sam Roberts – Chief Executive Officer of the Accelerated Access Collaborative (AAC), Director of Innovation and Life Sciences, NHS England and NHS Improvement Mike Thompson – Chief Executive, ABPI

An outline of the Billions Institute’s approach to large scale change, and how the South West AHSN is learning from this approach to deliver spread programmes across Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. With William Lilley, Stuart Monk, Sarah Robens – South West AHSN

Launch of the AHSN Network’s Innovation Exchange digital gateway and latest Economic Growth report, including real-world examples from innovators on how they have worked with AHSNs. With Tony Davis – Commercial Director, West Midlands AHSN

Examining the multiplier effect that diversity has on innovation, this new report from the AHSN Network celebrates a number of our BAME innovators and sets out pledges on behalf of the AHSNs to do more to promote and progress equality and diversity both within the network and across our programmes. In this session at Expo19, BAME leaders and innovators explore how diverse innovators are shifting the dial on health inequalities and to debate what more we can all do to support this important agenda. With Richard Stubbs, Chief Executive Officer, Yorkshire & Humber AHSN Download the AHSN Network's Diversity in Innovation report at https://www.ahsnnetwork.com/diversity-innovation

Supporting faster take-up of high impact innovations - how the NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA) can help you With Laura Boyd, Deputy Director, NIA; Liz Ashall-Payne, NIA Fellow, ORCHA; Amy Manning, NIA Fellow, S12 Solutions

The AHSN Network's plan for a safer future With Natasha Swinscoe, CEO West of England AHSN, and Cheryl Crocker, AHSN Network Patient Safety Director