Applications have opened for the latest round of the CW Innovation Horizon Fellowship programme, designed to encourage staff across Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to share innovative project ideas around improving patient care and experience.
The fellowship offers a range of support for staff, including provision for peer-to-peer support, six learning days across the year, and access to workshops, resources, and events. It also sees mentoring from “high-profile leaders in business, and the health and care sector”, allowing staff to expand their skills and knowledge.
Tom Carlisle, innovation business partner with CW+, said that the programme offers staff a “fantastic opportunity to receive the support they need to bring their innovative ideas to life”.
Previous Horizon Fellow Natalie Nunes developed an idea through the programme involving the use of VR headsets to reduce pain and anxiety for women undergoing manual vacuum aspiration after early pregnancy loss. This tech is now offered for a variety of outpatient procedures across Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, with Natalie stating the programme helped her to realise “what is possible when you have an idea and the support to make it a reality.”
According to the application form, applications will be assessed based on how well they address trust priorities, their potential benefit for the service and patients, their potential impact, and their long-term sustainability.
The deadline for applications is the 4 August 2024, with an announcement of successful projects expected on the 23 August 2024. So far, the programme has reportedly supported 32 members of staff, helping to bring digital projects to fruition across both hospital sites.
To learn more about the programme and how to apply, please click here.
Elsewhere, Innovate UK is working with West Yorkshire Combined Authority to offer a share of up to £500,000 for innovation projects, with the funding to support small and micro businesses grow their innovation activities in the health technologies cluster in West Yorkshire, both during and after the programme.
In other innovation, Cancer Research UK (CRUK) has published a new roadmap for the early detection and diagnosis of cancer, identifying major challenges and proposals for addressing them through new technologies, enhanced data access for research, and new models of healthcare.
