Innovation News
March 2025
AcademyforHealth Equity,Prevention andWellbeing
HealthEquity,PreventionandHealthBehaviourChangeWorkshops
HealthFoundationAlumniwillmeettodiscussImprovementScienceforthe thirdtimeataworkshophostedbyDrLoreleiJonesandDrChrisSubbe,faculty ofBangorUniversity’sAcademyforHealthEquity,PreventionandWellbeing. EuropeanguestsfromUK,SwedenandtheNetherlandswilljointheworkshop tounderstandwhatchangeshealthcareforthebetter,when,where,howand withwhom.
Scientists,postdoctoral researchers,PhDstudents andseasonedhealthservice researcherswillgettogether on24and25Marchin Beaumaris,onthebeautiful isleofAnglesey,togetto gripswiththethornier challengesofhealthcare. Supportedbyfundingfrom theHealthFoundation, BangorUniversityisthehost forthisyear’suniqueget together.
TheAcademyforHealth Equity,Preventionand Wellbeingrunsawide rangeoffreeworkshopson relatedtopicssuchashealth equity,preventionand healthybehaviourchange. Pleasevisittheirwebsiteto findoutmore.
BevanCommission
InnovativesolutionstohelptackleWales’healthcare waitingtimecrisis
TheBevanCommission'slatestreport,“WhyWait? BuildingonProvenInitiativestoReduceWaitsin Wales,”highlightsprovensolutionsalreadymakinga difference.ThisincludesfreeingupGPappointments, slashingmentalhealthA&Evisits,andcuttinggastro waittimesfromyearstomonths.Theseinnovative projects,ledbyhealthandcareprofessionals,are"nobrainers"thatcanbescaledup.Thereportlaysoutfive keyrecommendationstotacklethebacklogand improvepatientflow.Clickheretoreadthefullreport.
ClinicalInfluencersCohort2Workshop
Lastmonth,theClinicalInfluencerscametogetherfortheirsecondworkshop, divingintothetopic,“OurRoleasLeadersforTransformationalChange:What canwedoourselves,andhowcanwehelpothers?”Thedaywasfilledwith thought-provokingdiscussions,challengingdebates,andinvaluableinsights.
ThepresentersincludedDrInderSingh,ConsultantGeriatricianatAneurin BevanUniversityHealthBoard,whosharedhisFractureLiaisonService(FLS) journey,AshleyGould,ProgrammeDirectorintheBehaviouralScienceUnitat PublicHealthWales,aswellasPhilKloer,ChiefExecutiveatHywelDda UniversityHealthBoardandRhidianHurle,MedicalDirectoratDigitalHealth andCareWaleswhosharedtheirexperiencesofinfluencingmeaningful change.ClickheretoreadmoreabouttheClinicalInfluencersProgramme.
‘"Let'sNotWaste"Report
TheBevanCommission's"Let'sNotWaste" programme,atwo-yearinitiativesupportedbyWelsh Government,hasculminatedinafinalreportoutlining significantstridesintacklingwastewithinthehealth andcaresector.Buildinguponthefoundationslaidby theirpreviouspublication,"WhataWaste!",which identifiedsixkeyareascontributingtoanestimated 20-30%wasteoftotalresources,thisnewreport showcasesthetangibleimpactofaconcertedeffortto addressthiscriticalissue.
Thereport'sfindingsunderscoretheimportanceofsustainedactionand highlightseveralimportantrecommendations.Notably,ithighlightstheneedto maintainmomentum,builduponexistingdevelopments,andfullyutilisethe resourcescreatedduringtheprogramme.Clickheretoreadthefullreport.
WelcominganewcohortofBevanFellows
TheBevanCommissioninJanuaryannounceditsnewBevanFellows-24health andcareprofessionalsreadytolead,research,andimplementinnovative projectstoimprovehealthandwellbeingoutcomesforthepeopleofWales. Thesehealthandcareprofessionalswillbetacklingeverythingfromimproving patientcareandembracingtechtoaddressinghealthinequalities.
ThisincludesdevelopingnewADHDreferralpathways,usingtechtostreamline services,andevenmakinghealthcaremoredeaf-aware.Theseprojectsareall aboutcreatingabetter,moreequitablesystemforeveryone.
TheBevanFellowsprogrammeisallaboutfosteringleadershipandsupporting innovativeideas.Theseindividualswillreceivetwoyearsoftrainingandsupport tobringtheirprojectstolife.
Clickheretoreadmoreabouttheirprojects.
HealthandSocialCare InnovationWales
NewFrameworktoSupportHealthandSocialCareInnovationinWales
HealthandSocialCareInnovationWales(HSCIW)isarangeofnewinnovation infrastructuredevelopedbyleadersacrossthehealthandsocialcare communityinWales,fundedbyWelshGovernment.
Bringingtogetherexistingresourcesfromacrosstheinnovationecosystem, HSCIWmakesiteasierforNHSandsocialcarestaffandorganisationstofind thesupporttheyneedtodevelopandimplementinnovationinpriorityareas, helpingtoimprovepatientoutcomesanddeliverbettervalue.
Formoreinformation,visitwww.hsciw.wales.
HealthTechnologyWales
HealthTechnologyWalespublisheslatestadoptionauditreport
HealthTechnologyWales(HTW)haspublishedtheresultsofits2023/24 AdoptionAuditReport.
ForthisreportHTWaudited11piecesofHTWguidanceandthreepiecesofNICE MedicalTechnologiesEvaluationguidance.
Theauditachievedthebestresponseratetodateandrevealedhighlevelsof awarenessofHTWguidance.
ResponsesfromorganisationswhereHTW’sguidancewasrelevantindicate thatawarenessoftheguidanceishigh(79%),clarityofguidance recommendationsisverygood(96%),andguidanceishavinganimpactinthe majorityofcases(72%).Thesefiguresareconsistentwith,oranimprovementon lastyear’saudit.
Clickheretoreadthe2023/24HTWAdoptionAuditReportinfull.
HealthTechnologyWalesguidancepublishedondigitaltoolsfordiabetes management
Adigitalplatformtosupportpeoplelivingwithtype2diabeteshasbeen recommendedforadoptioninWales.
HealthTechnologyWales(HTW)haspublishedguidancewhichsupportsthe routineadoptionoftheMyWayDiabetesdigitalplatform.
MyWayDiabetesprovidespersonalisedmanagement,education,andsupport forpeoplewithtype2diabetes.
HTWlookedforevidenceontheuseofdigitaltoolsfordigitalmanagementand education. ItfoundthatMyWayDiabeteshasbeenassociatedwithimproved controlofbloodglucoselevelscomparedtostandardcareforpeoplewithtype 2diabeteswhodonotrequireinsulin.
AccordingtoHTWMyWayDiabetesisalsocosteffectivecomparedtostandard careforpeoplewithtype2diabetesthatdonotrequireinsulin.
Clickheretoreadtheguidance.
InnovationinHealthand SocialCareIntensive LearningAcademy
MScScholarshipWindowOpen
AlimitednumberoffullfeescholarshipsareavailablefortheparttimeMSc AdvancedManagement–(HealthInnovationandTransformation),startingin September2025.ApplyforScholarshipbyclickinghere.
Thesescholarshipsareavailableforprofessionallearnerscurrentlyemployedin theHealth,SocialCareandThirdSectorsinWales,andareofferedthroughthe InnovationAcademyatSwanseaUniversity.
ThedeadlineforscholarshipapplicationsisMonday2June2025.
Deliveredover2years,theprogrammesuseamixofweeklyonlinedelivery, weekendworkshopsandasynchronousmaterialavailablethroughthe University’sCanvasvirtuallearningplatform.
Fulldetailsofthecoursecanbefoundhereoralternativelypleaseemail ihscacademy@swansea.ac.uk.
LifeSciencesHubWales
AICommissionBlogSeriesLaunches
LifeSciencesHubWalesaresupportingtheAICommission’seffortstoinform andengagestakeholdersaboutAIinitiativesinHealthandSocialCareinWales. Leveragingexpertiseacrossthesectorandbeyond,we’recuratingaseriesof10 blogsauthoredbypartnersacrossWelshGovernment,Academia,Industryand LifeSciencesHubWales,toincreaseunderstandingofAIadoption,theAI landscapeinWales,andidentifyingandimplementingbestpracticesforAI regulationandadoption.
Clickheretoreadtheblogseriessofar.
BigData,BiggerImpact:KickingOff2025withRecordEngagement
On14January2025,thefirstBigDataeventoftheyeartookplacewithrecordbreakingengagement—177attendeesjoinedthelivecall.Thisseventheventin theserieswashostedbytheBigDataTeam:apartnershipbetweenthe AdvancedAnalyticsteamintheNationalDataResourceprogrammeandLife SciencesHubWales.ThethemekickingoffthenewyearwasBigData:Bigger Picture.
Readthefullstoryhere.
TrainingandDevelopmentWebpageLaunched
Astheinnovationlandscapecontinuestoevolve,successhingesonagenuine commitmenttolearninganddevelopment.Werecentlylaunchedanew webpagededicatedtolistingtraininganddevelopmentopportunitiesdesigned toequipcolleaguesacrosshealth,socialcare,andindustrywiththetoolsand expertisetoleadinlifesciencesinnovation.
Ifyouhaveatrainingordevelopmentopportunitytoshare,pleasecontactusat hello@lshubwales.com.
Takealookatthetraininganddevelopmentopportunities.
MediWales
BIARegionalFocus:Cardiff
MediWalesispleasedtoannouncethattheyareworkingincollaborationwith theBIAandCytivatobringtheRegionalFocuseventtoCardiffonthe29thof April.
Thedayincludespresentationsfromsomeofthemostexcitingcompaniesin Wales,aswellaspaneldiscussionsonhowWelshcompaniesfitintothebroader UKecosystem.We’llconsiderhowwecanbuildthenextgenerationofskillsfor Welshcompanies,andhowlifescienceentrepreneurscansourcethecapital theyneedtochangetheworld.
TolearnmoreabouttheBIARegionalFocusevent,clickhere.
MediWalesConnects
MediWalesareholdingtheirannualConnectsconferenceonthe17thofJuneat theAllNationsCentre,Cardiff.
Connectsistheall-WalesNHScollaborationconferenceforthehealthandcare community,connectingyouwithNHSpatientfacingclinicians,innovationleads, communityhealth,industry,governmentandpolicymakers.
Buildingontheexcellentworkthathasbeendonearoundinnovationadoption, theywillconsiderthechallengesinvolvedwithscalingchangeandadoptionof newproducts,servicesandprocessesthatdeliverimpactforpatientsacrossthe wholeNHS
NationalNetworkfor InnovationinSport&Health
TheNationalNetworkforInnovationinSport&HealthAnnualReport
Theirfocushasbeenondrivinginnovationinlifesciences,health,sport,and digitalinfrastructure,showingwhatcanbeaccomplishedwhenacademia, industry,andthepublicsectorcometogether.In2024,thisincludedattracting £1.6Minresearchincome,£5.4Minprivateandpublicinvestment,creating33 newjobsandrecruiting410newstudentsonSwanseaUniversityhealthand wellbeingcourses.
NorthWalesRegional InnovationCoordinationHub
DigitalSocialCareShowCase
On5March2025webroughttogetherdigitaltechnologyproviderswithpeople whoplan,useandprovidesocialcareforthefirstNorthWalesDigitalSocial CareShowcase.Theeventwasafantasticsuccesswithspacestoconnectand reflectabouthowweusedigitaltechnologyandtrythingsoutforourselves. Workshopsincluded:
Tipsforusingeverydaytechnologiestohelpyoulivethewayyouchoose. Howtoco-designabespokecaresolutionusingeverydaysmart technologies
Mobilephoneappsthatyoucanusetohelpimproveyourhealthand wellbeing.
Howtohelpyourorganisationandyourstaffgetreadyforadigitalfuture. Achancetoseeandtryoutmedicationmanagementgadgetstosupport peopletotaketheirmedicationontime.
Formoreinformationclickhere.
Collectionofgoodideas
Beinspiredbynewideasforimprovinghealthandsocialcarebybrowsingthe collectionofgoodideasonourwebsite.Thiscollectionincludesideasfrom acrossNorthWalessuchas:
aninnovativeprojecttopromotehealthandsocialcarecareer opportunitiesinAnglesey, theNorthWalesSupportedEmploymentStrategyforpeoplewithlearning disabilities, aHepatitisCrapidtestandtreatproject.
IfyouknowofanyotherideasinNorthWalesthatshouldbeincludedplease emailnwrich@denbighshire.gov.uk
Formoreinformationclickhere.
SAILDatabank
SAILDatabankSecures£4.55MSustainabilityFundingfromHealthandCare ResearchWales
SAILDatabankispleasedtoreceive£4,551,338insustainabilityfundingfrom HealthandCareResearchWales,aspartofa£49Minvestmentinresearch infrastructureacrossWales.
Thefundingsupports17researchcentres,helpingmaintaineffectivemodels anddriveinnovationinhealthandcare.SAILCo-director,ProfessorDavidFord, expressedgratitude,emphasisingthefunding’sroleinadvancingAI-enabled researchandfederatedanalytics.
JeremyMiles,CabinetSecretaryforHealthandSocialCare,highlighted research’sroleinshapingservices,whileHealthandCareResearchWales reaffirmeditscommitmenttoadvancingresearchalignedwithunmethealth needs.
ThisfundingensuresSAILDatabankremainsaworld-leadingresearch resource,supportingdata-drivenpolicyandcutting-edgehealthresearch.
Formoreinformation,visit:www.healthandcareresearchwales.org.
Value-BasedHealth andCareAcademy
MScScholarshipWindowOpen
AlimitednumberoffullfeescholarshipsareavailablefortheparttimeMSc AdvancedHealthandCareManagement–(Value-Based),startingin September2025.ApplyforScholarshipbyclickinghere.
Thesescholarshipsareavailableforprofessionallearnerscurrentlyemployedin theHealth,SocialCareandThirdSectorsinWalesandareofferedthroughthe Value-BasedHealthandCareAcademyatSwanseaUniversity.
ThedeadlineforscholarshipapplicationsisMonday2June2025.
Deliveredover2years,theprogrammeusesamixofweeklyonlinedelivery, weekendworkshopsandasynchronousmaterialavailablethroughthe University’sCanvasvirtuallearningplatform.
Fulldetailsofthecoursecanbefoundhereoralternativelypleaseemail: vbhcacademy@swansea.ac.uk.
PrinciplesofValue-BasedHealth&CareExecutiveEducation-Junecourse nowopen
AlimitednumberofscholarshipsareavailableforthePrinciplesofValue-Based Health&Careexecutiveeducation2dayinpersoncourse,18&19June2025. Detailscanbefoundhere.
Thesescholarshipsareavailableforprofessionallearnerscurrentlyemployedin theHealth,SocialCareandThirdSectorsinWalesandareofferedthroughthe Value-BasedHealthandCareAcademyatSwanseaUniversity.
Deliveredbyateamofinternationalfacultyofleaderswithexpertknowledgeof healthandcaresystems,thecoursewillensureyoureturntoyourorganisation equippedtovalidateorbuildastrategydefinedbyvalueandoutcomes.
Thescholarshipapplicationdeadlineis31March2025.ApplyforaScholarship hereoralternativelyemailSom-execed@swansea.ac.ukformoreinformation.
WelshBloodService
WelshBloodServicewinsWalesQualityCentreBestPracticeAwardfor5 MinuteImprovementInitiative
In2022,theWelshBloodServiceimplementedanambitious3yearstrategyto transformtheorganisation’sapproachtoServiceImprovement(SI)andto engageandempowerstafftodeliverSI.Utilisingnetworkingopportunities,one ofthekeytakeawaysaroundempoweringstafftodeliversmallimprovements ledtothe5MinuteImprovementinitiative.
5MinuteImprovementsareaimedatempoweringstaffto: Fixthethingsthatbugthem Sortoutthethingsthatslowthemdown Maketheirworkingdayalittlebitbetter Establishingacultureofimprovement
Thisinitiativehasenabledstafftodeliver481improvementssinceitslaunchin October2022andwasrecognisedintheWalesQualityCentre2024Best PracticeAwards.
Readmoreontheawardwinnershere.
Contact:wbs.serviceimprovement@wales.nhs.uk
