The NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA) has announced its 17 new Fellows for 2023, including two health and care innovators working with, and being supported by, the West of England AHSN. The successful Fellows have created innovations that offer solutions to some of the most urgent NHS needs.
Mark Russell-Smith is the Director of International Operations at ProComp Solutions Ltd – an AI-assisted technology to optimise logistics and increase capacity. The technology can help hospitals to increase their discharge rates through the reduction of domiciliary care service mileage.
The West of England AHSN is supporting Procomp Solutions as the innovation partner of its Domiciliary Care Workforce programme, in collaboration with the South West AHSN, Health Education England, Bristol City and Cornwall Councils. The programme is currently running two pilot schemes in Bristol and Cornwall which focus on reducing travel times, increasing workforce capacity and improving working lives of care workers by using AI technology to better plan schedules.
Dr Chen Mao Davies is the CEO of Anya – a cutting-edge 3D interactive technology to help new mothers learn breastfeeding skills. Virtual communities and AI-powered support provide personalised around-the-clock assistance for parents throughout the first-1001 days of their child’s life.
The West of England AHSN has been supporting Chen since the very beginning of her innovation journey as a graduate of our 2018 Health Innovation Programme – and has continued to support the growth of her solution from business acorn to the multiple award-winning breastfeeding and parenting support app of today.
Cheryl Scott, Industry and Innovation Lead at the West of England AHSN says: “We’re delighted to see both innovators selected for the NIA and to have their solutions, which address some of the most pressing issues facing the NHS today, supported for national adoption and spread. We have always seen the potential and promise in both innovations and look forward to continuing to work together to support them on their innovation journeys.”
The 2023 Fellowship is the largest cohort for the NIA programme since its launch in 2015. Other innovations included in the 2023 NIA cohort include digital apps that can overcome language barriers and reduce health inequalities and an artificially intelligent chatbot that can offer responsive, instant access to mental health support.
The NIA is an award-winning NHS England initiative, working to support NHS Long Term Plan priorities by accelerating uptake of promising innovations for patient, population and NHS staff benefit.
Read more about the NHS Innovation Accelerator Programme 2023 here.
Find out more about our work to support Anya by LatchAid here.
Read more about our work with Procomp Solutions on the Domiciliary Care Workforce programme here.
Posted on March 24, 2023
