Summit champions health and care innovations in the South West
Leaders in health and care, who share a mission to improve population health across the region, attended an event today which showcased multiple solutions offered by regional innovations in the South West.
Anna Walker, Chair of the South West Academic Health Science Network (South West AHSN) which hosted the event, said:
“People living along or within the 600 miles of coastline of the South West peninsula, from the Isles of Scilly to Somerset, face real challenges to receiving health and care. Our undoubtedly beautiful and unique geography creates some complexities and challenges for the 2.3 million of us living here.
The South West combines coastal, inner city and rural communities, which include some of the healthiest places to live but also pockets of deep, longstanding and increasing deprivation.
Distance is a real issue. Many people live at least 30 minutes from their nearest hospital. We have an ageing population. Deprivation is more of an issue for children than elderly people and mental health issues need attention. We also have workforce challenges across both health and care provision.
Fortunately, to meet the ongoing diverse needs of all our people, the region is home to numerous innovative health and care solutions. Many have already won awards which recognise the support they deliver to our mixture of communities, including those that are vulnerable and remote. We work with partners across the region to bring innovation to those living here.”
The showcase event was attended by Matt Whitty, Chief Executive, Accelerated Access Collaborative and Director of Innovation, Research and Life Sciences, NHS England and NHS Improvement:
“Through research and innovation we can improve patient outcomes and reduce health inequalities and so it is important to celebrate and spotlight their impact.
Already over 1.4 million patients have benefited from our programmes. Ground-breaking commercial partnerships are supporting the introduction of innovative new treatments for cardiovascular disease and cancer and we have programmes such as the Small Business Research Initiative helping the NHS develop technologies that support the NHS’s net zero ambitions.
It’s a great pleasure to visit the South West AHSN and meet those teams helping get some of the NHS’s most promising healthcare innovations to patients faster.”
The innovation showcase event was held today at the Exeter hub where the South West AHSN is based. It brought together patients, researchers, frontline and management workers in the health and care system, and other organisations focused on improving population health in the region.
Each session focused on achievements and learning to date as well helping to inform the ways innovative practice can be optimised within integrated care systems across the region in the coming years.
For more pictures and learnings from the event find us on Twitter @sw_ahsn
Image: Rob Coombe Photography
