Our commitment to supporting a vibrant health innovation ecosystem has never been more evident. This year, we successfully supported 235 innovators, fostering exciting advancements with the potential to benefit patients and health systems alike. Our collaborative efforts across the national Health Innovation Network have resulted in £475.8 million being leveraged by innovators through grants and private investment, a testament to the robust support and guidance we provide and demonstrating the important role we play in driving economic growth.
We are particularly proud of the significant impact our programmes have had on patient care. The PreCiSSIon care bundle, which has now been used to treat 6,000 mothers following caesarean births in the West of England, exemplifies our dedication to putting evidence into practice. Similarly, our non-invasive ventilation care bundle has saved at least 100 lives, highlighting our commitment to introducing effective, lifesaving innovations.
Our focus extends beyond immediate health interventions to include systemic improvements across various care pathways. The establishment of 84 communities of practice through our national Polypharmacy programme and the engagement of 98% of primary care networks in our lipid management programme are just two examples of how we are fostering a culture of continuous improvement and collaborative learning across the health and care landscape.
One of our proudest achievements is the ongoing success of PERIPrem. Since its launch, nearly 3,000 premature babies in the South West have benefited from this unique perinatal care bundle, which continues to reduce brain injury and mortality rates among preterm infants. Born in the West, this innovative approach is now being delivered across Wales and other parts of England.
Training and capacity building remain at the heart of our mission. Through our RESTORE2 programme, we have trained 3,217 care staff to better identify and respond to signs of deterioration. Our Black Maternity Matters community has grown to include 161 health and care professionals, all working together to improve maternal health outcomes for Black women and encourage anti-racist practice.
Engaging and collaborating with diverse communities is crucial to our approach, ensuring the needs and insights of people with lived experience inform the development of innovation.
Over 900 secondary school children have shared their insights with the charity ERIC about living with bladder and bowel conditions, helping to inform better care practices and support systems for young people. Meanwhile, our South West Learning Disabilities Collaborative continues to grow, now encompassing 458 members dedicated to improving health outcomes for people with learning disabilities.
As we look to the future, our vision remains clear: to increase the uptake of innovation across health and care services, driving forward improvements that have a positive impact on the lives of people in our communities. We are committed to growing a well-networked community of enthusiasts who bring fresh thinking and new ways of doing things, ensuring that the innovations we support are adopted widely and effectively.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our dedicated staff, partners, and the wider innovation community for your continued support, energy and collaboration. Together, we are transforming lives through health and care innovation, building a healthier future for all.
