Introducing our Newest Associate Member, Health Innovation East

Health Innovation East is one of 15 regional Health Innovation Networks that support the introduction of innovative technologies, devices, and care pathways to transform health and care.

At Health Innovation East we believe that great ideas only make a difference for our health when they’re put into practice. As the innovation arm of the NHS in the East of England our goal is clear - to get the best innovations in health and care to the people, places, and problems where they bring the most benefit. Whether we're working with global companies, pioneering startups, regional health providers, or leading universities we never lose sight of the communities we serve.

Our partnership, via a recently established associate membership, with the University of East Anglia’s Health and Social Care Partners (UEAHSCP) plays part in helping us achieving this goal. UEAHSCP funds innovative research focused on improving health and social care, people’s wellbeing or ways of working.

Our association with UEAHSCP opens a range of benefits such as; engaging with key collaborators to develop research funding ideas and applications, sharing best practice in innovation and supporting our culture of continuous improvement. We will also support each other’s events and conferences - including the UEAHSCP annual impact conference. Ultimately, and together, we’re working to shape the future of health and care in our region.

Recently we collaborated on the TOSCA study, which examined how digital technology could aid health behaviour change among adolescents attending Complications of Excess Weight clinics. TOSCA engaged 38 participants in focus groups and workshops to identify health priorities, barriers to and facilitators of health behaviour change, and how technology could support participants in achieving their health goals.

Further, Dr. Carolyn Jackson (Research Director at UEAHSCP) and Sophie Knight (Principle Advisor, Health Innovation East) have reflected on three ways healthcare can collaborate for better outcomes, suggesting that:

Citizen-driven innovation is important for healthcare transformation to generate impact: Meaningful patient and public involvement (PPI) ensures projects address genuine patient needs and health disparities.

Learning across sectors sits hand in hand with citizen driven innovation and is pivotal in bridging gaps between and linking industry, academic, clinicians and civilians to drive sustainable progress.

Empowering people to break silos is an important ingredient for effective collaboration. Organisations don’t talk, people do. Yet, unless we unlock their confidence, mindset, or authority to engage external groups it is possible to restrict cooperation around, or narrow perspectives about, addressing issues.