Issue 83 | 11 November 2021
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Innovation website goes live
A new website for Surrey Heartlands Health Tech Accelerator (HTA) showcases how its services can support faster development of the most promising healthcare innovations from start-ups and SMEs.
Based at the University of Surrey’s Clinical Research Building, the HTA draws on the research, clinical, commercial and business accelerator expertise of its founding partners to improve health and well-being for citizens, address system challenges and support the productivity of SMEs to drive economic growth.
The new website outlines the range of facilities available via the HTA, as well as detailing its offer to key audiences of health tech innovators, the health and care system, academia and citizens.
View the HTA website
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Improving mental health outcomes for care leavers
The Drive Forward Foundation and National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum held an event on Tuesday this week about care experience and mental health. The event shared good practice and focused on finding solutions to improve outcomes.
Delegates heard from people with lived care experience, mental health experts and guest speakers including Wil Quince, Minister for Children and Families; Josh Macalister, Chair of the Independent Review into Children's Social Care; and Mark Riddell, National Implementation Adviser for Care Leavers.
Becca Randell, Starting Well (Children’s Mental Health) Implementation Lead, KSS AHSN, presented recent research funded by NIHR ARC KSS. The “Beyond Lockdown” research looked into the impact of COVID-19 on care leavers and made recommendations about how Health and Leaving Care Teams can further work together to improve mental health outcomes for care leavers.
Please contact Becca Randell to find out more.
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NHS in Kent and Medway gets stroke services go-ahead from Secretary of State
Last week the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid, announced his decision to agree to change the way stroke services are delivered across Kent and Medway. The decision, which will see three new ‘hyper acute stroke units’ established to give very specialist care to stroke patients in the immediate days after a stroke, is expected to save a life a fortnight compared to the previous configuration of services.
The Secretary of State supported in full the advice received from the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP). The IRP reviewed and supported the decision by doctors from the as-was eight Kent and Medway clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), along with Bexley CCG and East Sussex CCG, to move from six general stroke units in Kent and Medway to three hyper acute stroke units (HASUs).
This means the NHS is now able to proceed with the implementation of the HASUs. The implementation is supported by a commitment from the NHS to deliver a business case for investment in comprehensive stroke rehabilitation and prevention services across Kent and Medway.
Read more
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Increasing uptake of annual health checks for people with learning disabilities
A series of free videos to assist healthcare professionals to increase the uptake of annual health checks for people with learning disabilities has been launched.
The videos focus on building knowledge and awareness for healthcare professionals on managing the checks, understanding more about reasonable adjustments, The Mental Health Capacity Act, and remote consultations.
A second suite of videos for people with a learning disability, and their carers and parents, who may want to learn more about the check is also available. A number of the videos feature Misfits Theatre Company from Bristol. Videos also discuss managing oral health to avoid future complications and how a health action plan can be of benefit.
The videos were created by NHS England and NHS Improvement South West, with support from the West of England AHSN.
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Social Prescribing Information Standard Survey
The Professional Record Standards Body (PRSB) are working with NHS England to deliver an Information Standard for Social Prescribing. As part of developing the Information Standard, PRSB are carrying out a UK wide consultation via an online survey.
The survey, which takes approximately 6 – 8 minutes to complete, comprises of 15 - 18 (user specific) questions. It includes a 3 minute Social Prescribing video, which will help explain the reasons for developing an Information Standard for Social Prescribing. The survey closes on 26 November.
Click here to take part in the survey
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Care home training films pass 500,000 milestone
A series of free online training videos aimed at care home staff have recently reached more than 500,000 views on YouTube.
A collaboration by Wessex and the West of England Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs) and Hampshire, Southampton and Isle of Wight CCG, and funded by Health Education England, the short videos describe how to take measurements from residents, spot signs of deterioration and prevent the spread of infection.
They have been described as having ‘the potential to save many lives and tens of millions of pounds.’
There are 14 videos in total and you can watch them here
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Digital Health Partnership Award round 2
The Digital Health Partnership Award was created to help NHS organisations in England bid for funding to accelerate the adoption of digital health technologies to support patients with long term conditions. The award focuses on how digital products and services can support people to remotely monitor their health at home or in the community.
NHS organisations are able to bid for funding to accelerate new and ready to scale digital health technologies.
Find out more
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Latest funding news
The AHSN Network has published its latest funding newsletter, which contains a wealth of funding and grant news for start-ups, SMEs and health innovators.
Read more
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Focus on the future of healthcare delivery
Earlier this year, Thoughtworks created its first Looking Glass report, examining more than 120 technology trends through six 'lenses' to help businesses understand what those trends could mean for them. This follow-up report looks specifically at what some of these trends could mean for the health and care sector, and how they’re shaping the future of health care delivery
Read more or download the report
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Bridging the gap between industry and the NHS
We're excited to share with you our new animation which explains how we can help bridge the gap between industry and the NHS.
It talks about the importance of having a clear value proposition, the need to generate evidence, and how the AHSNs can support innovators - with products and services that match NHS priorities - through these stages and on to national adoption.
You can watch the video here or contact our industry engagement team for more information.
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Resources for innovators
Our colleagues in the AHSN Network Innovation Exchange have put together a package of some of the key resources for innovators that are available through the AHSN Network.
The guides, tips and toolkits cover topics such as:
- Business case development
- Market readiness
- Evidence
- Adoption and spread
Find out more
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Supporting care workers during COVID
A new study by researchers from Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) uncovers the barriers faced by staff in residential and domiciliary care when trying to put COVID-19 infection control guidance into practice. The study focused on the first wave of the pandemic and outlines the lessons learnt from the experiences of staff.
The research, funded by funded by NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex (ARC KSS), Higher Education Innovation Fund at University of Sussex, and the NIHR Clinical Research Network, shows how care staff had difficulty getting guidance and advice on infection control. There was also limited or no testing in place, and inconsistent or conflicting information between care settings which led to unclear responsibilities. Running alongside this was the feeling that the care sector were invisible at times, despite the huge sacrifices being made by many individuals to keep those being cared for safe.
Dr Lavinia Bertini, Primary Care and Public Health Research Fellow at BSMS, explains:
"The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic represented a major challenge for staff working in adult social care settings. The people we spoke to told us how they had to quickly adapt to new routines, procedures, guidelines and responsibilities. Some had problems with accessing information and guidance, others were worried about the image of the care sector, while some felt isolated and unappreciated.
"This study has helped us to understand the challenges that many care workers faced and from this we have been able to share these findings and lessons learnt with our colleagues in Kent, Surrey and Sussex and with Public Health England."
Download a copy of 'Supporting Care Workers during COVID': findings and key messages from the study.'
For more information, please contact Dr Bertini
The ARC KSS Social Care and Public Health themes are going to host a Community of Practice, bringing together stakeholders interested in supporting the Home Care sector through research, for more details please contact Becky Sharp, Implementation Lead (Social Care), KSS AHSN.
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Homecare Community of Practice
On the 6th of October, the ARC KSS Social Care and Public Health Themes hosted a Community of Practice which focused on the Homecare sector. In attendance were public advisors, service providers, member organisations, commissioners and academics.
The agenda covered three topic areas and attendees were invited to discuss the topics and share their own thoughts with the community. The key themes and ideas that were discussed included:
- How community-based care settings, for individuals who are vulnerable to Covid-19, can be supported when receiving new or returning clients.
This very much focussed on the results of the ARC KSS funded study looking at the challenges of implementation of PHE guidance in community settings. The results resonated with all attendees and have been widely shared with stakeholders across KSS, as well as the SAGE working group on Social Care, NICE and the COVID-19 Advice and Guidance Team for adult social care at PHE.
- Workforce - much of the discussion focussed on the current challenges of recruitment and retention in the Homecare sector, including:
- The challenges for the homecare sector in relation to 'place', such as geographical distances being travelled and the recent fuel crisis
- Contingency planning in homecare and innovative ideas like mutual aid and collaboration between homecare providers
- The need for positive messaging about the sector to encourage more people, including students, to consider care as a career.
- The development of a research question and proposal looking at addressing nutrition and food insecurity among elderly people receiving homecare.
The next meeting is scheduled for January 19th with plans to share research and further explore the challenges of workforce and also digital technology. If you would like to learn more or join the community, please contact Becky Sharp or Funmi Vaughn for more information.
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Business case workshop
16 November 2021 - online
The KSS AHSN industry engagement team is running this online to support innovators/SMEs with how to approach writing, or contributing to, business cases.
The focus will be on helping participants understand the purpose of a business case, HM Treasury frameworks for what public sector business cases need to cover, and the components of a good business case.
Find out more and register
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Innovation clinic with industry experts
29 November 2021 - 10:00 - 17:00 - online
Wessex AHSN has partnered with Morgan Innovation and Technology Ltd to deliver an Innovation Clinic that provides advice and guidance for healthcare-focused businesses, entrepreneurs, or innovators at any stage of their innovation development process.
The clinic will be of particular interest to those looking for advice on the NHS as a marketplace, who need help to create a prototype or require any other specific advice related to their business.
Find out more
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ARC KSS Winter Research Symposium
30 November 2021, 10:00 - 12:00 - online
The Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) KSS is hosting its Winter Research Symposium: spotlight on research on 30 November.
The symposium will provide the latest insights from current research projects, implementation and evaluation across Kent, Surrey and Sussex. It will be chaired by Professor Stephen Peckham, Director of ARC KSS.
Find out more and register
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"Healing environments" - the connection between the built environment and mental health and wellbeing
2 December 2021, 11:00 - 12:15 - online
The design of buildings and the shaping of public spaces in the places we live, work and play contribute to our lived experiences, how we feel, and have the power to promote or stifle wellbeing and recovery.
Hosted by the Academic Health Science Network for the North East and North Cumbria (AHSN NENC) as part of the Healthy Happy Places programme, this webinar will showcase perspectives from mental health, architecture and urban planning to explore why the built environment matters when thinking about mental health and wellbeing.
The webinar – ‘Healing Environments’ - will take place on Thursday 2nd December 2021, 11:00-12:15.
Find out more
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IP: how to protect your innovations and inventions
2 December 2021, 14:30 - 16:00 - online
Maucher Jenkins LLP and Wessex Academic Health Science Network present a workshop to provide guidance and answer questions regarding Intellectual Property (IP). The workshop will provide an overview of the various Intellectual Property (IP) rights that exist, as well as important topics such as ownership, confidentiality, freedom to operate, IP strategy and funding for IP.
Find out more
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Research priorities in adult social care
6 December 2021, 12:00 - 14:00 - online
The social care theme of the Applied Research Collaboration Kent Surrey Sussex (ARC KSS) is holding a symposium on research priorities for adult social care on 6 December.
They will present findings from a series of region-wide focus groups, discussing innovative practice, the challenges for the sector and importantly priority areas for ARC KSS research to support evidence-based service change. As the national lead ARC for research in Social Care and Social Work, they will also share priority areas being developed nationally.
This event is suitable for anyone interested or involved in adult social care.
Find out more and register
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The Whole School Approach within Mental Health Support Teams: best practice review and evaluation
7 December 2021, 11:00 - 12:30 - online
A chance to hear about the best practice review and evaluation of whole school approach (WSA) within Mental Health Support Teams (MHST).
The review was commissioned due to concerns about a gap in current national monitoring and evaluation measures for MHSTs, which are weighted towards clinical outcomes. Over the course of a year, the review team gathered data on the ways in which local teams are developing the WSA element of MHST and the impact this was having.
The report identifies a number of clear ambitions about how this work should be taken forward nationally, regionally, locally and at school level.
Find out more and register
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Digital Health, AI & IVDs: navigating the changing regulatory landscape
22 January 2022, 10:00 - 11:00 - online
2022 is poised to be a year of further growth in the medical technology field and, with it, increased regulations and related compliance needs. This briefing session led by SEHTA is designed to give an update on the major topics to consider, the key actions that need to be taken to meet the challenges ahead, and an awareness of areas to explore further.
Find out more and register
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We hope you enjoyed Collaborate, if you’ve got anything you’d like to share please get in touch.
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