Highlighting the impact of innovative practice across the South West
We are delighted to share the South West AHSN’s Annual Review 2020 – 2021. It highlights the impact of our work with members and partners across the region during COVID-19.
Our annual review includes examples of our work spreading innovative practice, how we are building the capability of our partners to innovate, improve and learn how to better tackle health and care issues in the South West.
Jon Siddall, Chief Executive Officer of the South West AHSN, says that
“The AHSN’s role and contribution to our local health and care system is perhaps more relevant now than ever before. During the last year we’ve adapted in response to COVID-19, using our experience in the adoption and spread of innovation, evaluation and capability building to support the regional response to the pandemic. ”
Examples of projects highlighted in the annual review include:
- the rollout of remote consultation, management of COVID-19 patients, using Oximetry @Home and COVID virtual wards
- supporting optimisation of vaccination delivery
- capturing insights through the pandemic using rapid-cycle learning
- rapid support to innovators tackling the impact of the pandemic in real-time
Other significant projects include
- promoting the use of RESTORE2 in care homes, to spot serious illness and sepsis, with 1,440 care home staff trained in its use
- developing communications and alternative pathways to care to support the Think NHS 111 campaign, aimed at reducing Emergency Department attendances in Devon
- PReCePT (Prevention of Cerebral Palsy in Pre Term Labour), reducing the incidence of cerebral palsy through offering magnesium sulphate to eligible mothers during labour
- supporting social prescribing test beds throughout the region, connecting primary care and community responses and support vulnerable individuals, for COVID-19 and beyond
- continuing our Spread Academy, online, to support innovating teams to expand the reach of their innovation projects with appropriate health and care settings
Jon says,
“We’ve also been looking ahead to the future. In early 2021 we started work on our new five-year strategy, focused on one of the most significant issues for our region in the years ahead – health equity.
“I’m excited by what we can achieve through our focus of health equity. Working with our partners across the system I believe we can achieve an impact greater than the sum of our parts. During the next five years our work will demonstrate how innovation can help close health equity gaps, improve population health and generate economic growth.”
