Introduction
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Health Innovation Network , which coincides with the NHS ’ s 75th birthday . Since the establishment of the Health Innovation Network in 2013 , we have seen ( and supported ) significant developments in the health and care system – and beyond – from the changes in how we use data , to the introduction and mainstreaming of Artificial Intelligence assistance in many patient pathways , the rapid digital transformation ( with transformation particularly accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic ), and also the increased importance of health system integration .
The introduction of Integrated Care Boards has fostered exciting opportunities for placebased innovation , and a renewed focus on driving delivery through partnerships . Collaboration continues to be at the heart of everything we do , and our Innovation Hubs – established in South Yorkshire in 2019 and West Yorkshire in 2021 – embody how this works in practice .
The hubs provide dedicated innovation support and a conduit through which innovators can engage with system colleagues in a managed and efficient manner . Hub staff are part of the Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber team but are also integrated within each system . Through this embedded model of working , the hubs foster the conditions needed to enable the rapid adoption and spread of innovation . You can read more about the work of our Innovation Hubs , which were referenced in the Hewitt Review of integrated care systems as an exemplar of good practice , on page 58 .
2 Transforming Lives Through Innovation
This year we have also been working closely with colleagues in Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership on the recent launch of their Digital Primary Care Innovation Hub .
By forging strong relationships with the health and care systems across our region and working nationally with other local health innovation networks to discover and evaluate new innovations , we have been able to successfully spread initiatives that have significantly improved patient care outcomes and delivered a return on investment to the NHS . For example , over the past two years we have implemented four crucial projects that help to improve asthma care and access for more than 21,600 patients . Together , this work has enabled more appropriate diagnosis leading to a reduction in asthma attacks , asthma-related hospital admissions and the use of steroids which are known to have longterm side effects . You can read more about this work on page 25 .
Impact of asthma programmes
21,600 patients benefitted
from improved asthma care and access