Introduction
Last year marked an important milestone for our network as all 15 organisations across England were relicensed by the government and NHS England for another five years . This third licence period also coincided with our transition from Academic Health Science Networks ( AHSNs ) to health innovation networks , a name change that better reflects the important role we play in supporting the development and spread of innovation across health systems .
What started off as 15 local , unlinked functions has evolved into a collaborative , national network . This network is now an integral part of England ’ s NHS infrastructure , and within our regions , we serve as trusted partners , deeply integrated with frontline healthcare systems .
The adoption and spread of healthcare innovation in the NHS is complex and challenging . The NHS requires ongoing support to accelerate the implementation of proven solutions that enhance patient care , and we play a crucial role in this process . In Yorkshire and the Humber , building strong partnerships with our Integrated Care Systems ( ICSs ) has remained our top priority . We have developed a unique approach to this via our Innovation Hub model , aiming to enhance collaboration and drive innovation . Our West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire Hubs play a pivotal role within each Integrated Care Board ( ICB ) by bringing together different organisations across the system to accelerate the widespread adoption of cutting-edge health and care innovations . This embedded , partnership approach enables the development of a deep understanding of priorities and unmet needs and co-production of the best solutions .
We continuously evolve and adapt our approaches to effectively meet the needs of our three ICSs , and support them in their ambition to drive and scale innovations that help address local priority areas and improve outcomes for local people .
We know that cardiovascular disease is still a major cause of death in England putting immense pressure on the NHS . Over the past year , we have achieved significant success in our cardiovascular work with the implementation of national programmes and initiatives aimed at improving outcomes and enhancing patient care . You will find more information on page 8 .
2 Transforming Lives Through Innovation