NHS in the east awarded �2m

A �2m fund has been announced to encourage innovation in the NHS in the east of England.

The Regional Innovation Fund has been made available to support frontline NHS staff in developing innovative ideas.

This week is NHS Innovation week and the Regional Innovation Fund has been announced as part of a package of measures by the Department of Health to support creativity and efficiency in the NHS through innovation.

Many innovative ideas in the NHS risk not being developed due to a lack of funding. This money will help to put these ideas into practice and stimulate the inspiration of NHS staff and their colleagues in social care.

Along with this Regional Innovation Fund challenges and prizes will be set and awarded for non-clinical as well as clinical advances - for example improved patient experience, care pathways, safety, and access. The prizes will reward those ideas which are

replicable and can be diffused quickly across the NHS - reducing the time it takes for ideas to get from 'bench to bedside'

Also announced today, by the Department of Health, is a new legal duty for SHAs to promote innovation. NHS East of England has already carried out an Innovation Review and will develop a strategy to support this new legal duty. In promoting innovation the

NHS will need to respond to local needs, involving where possible patients, carers and the public in co-designing innovative solutions.

Neil McKay, Chief Executive of NHS East of England said: “I am delighted we have been given this �2m fund to support innovation in health in the East. This fund will support us in delivering our regional vision Towards the best, together and our aim of being the best health service in the England. The Innovation Fund will mean we can reward projects which build innovation and quality into NHS services. This will help to promote the innovation culture we want to develop for the NHS

in our region.”