New report highlights recommendations to drive health innovation
Health Innovation North East North Cumbria (HI NENC) welcomes the release of the Innovation Ecosystem Programme (IEP) Report, published on the 28th of November 2024.
The Report summarises 18 months of collaborative work and presents a series of recommendations aimed at transforming health and care in the UK while supporting economic growth. These recommendations focus on integrating innovation into NHS priorities, aligning efforts around key healthcare shifts, and strengthening leadership, funding, and coordination across the system.
The Report highlights the urgent need for faster and wider adoption of health innovation. This is essential for driving the three strategic shifts, identified by Health Secretary Wes Streeting earlier this year, to transform the NHS: moving from analogue to digital systems, transitioning care from hospitals to communities, and prioritising prevention over treatment.
Roland Sinker CBE, Chair of The IEP Advisory Group, said: “I want to emphasise that realising the opportunities will require a greater scale of ambition, with the funding, long-term planning and support to match. Many of the recommendations in this report will not feel new; they will be familiar from past discussions and reports on the topic. What is different here is the consistent, co-ordinated, long-term approach to fixing what is holding us back, and fixing it collaboratively.”
Nicola Hutchinson, Chief Executive of HI NENC, emphasised the significance of the Report, stating: “We are pleased to see the release of the Innovation Ecosystem Programme Report, which highlights critical steps toward unlocking the potential of health innovation to transform patient care and outcomes.
“A clear focus on national priorities, encouraging meaningful partnerships, and aligning accountability are essential to driving impactful change. As part of a national network of 15 Health Innovation organisations, HI NENC is well placed within our regional ecosystem to understand the key challenges and opportunities for driving innovation adoption. We’re committed to working collaboratively with our national and regional partners to turn these recommendations into action for the benefit of patients and the wider health system.”
The Report notes that innovation is more important than ever. The healthcare system faces growing challenges, including a predicted 55% increase in people over 85 years old by 2037 and a shrinking working-age population. Embracing innovation is critical to meeting the complex needs of an ageing population while easing pressures on the workforce.
This need for innovation aligns with the Health Innovation Network’s commitment to driving ‘local change, national impact,’ ensuring transformative change at scale.