Blogs

The EMAHSN communications team is advertising for a Communication Specialist - to lead the planning and delivery of our varied programme of virtual and in person events.

Communications Manager, Julie Warren gives an insight into what it’s like working at the EMAHSN.

I started working at EMAHSN in March 2021 – so, unbelievably I’ve already been here 18 months. And what a year and a half it has been – starting a new role in a pandemic when everyone was working from home was a bit daunting, but the team made it very easy for me.

I am seconded to EMAHSN from a Clinical Commissioning Group, where I had worked for a few years inhouse and via a Commercial Support Unit. After more years than I care to mention working in communications in the NHS, it’s good see things from a different perspective.

The East Midlands Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Senate is looking for new members to join its Senate from Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. The patient and public involvement Senate is an independent body hosted by EMAHSN, it works to spread best practice through its member’s networks – extending its reach through the East Midlands health and care community.

The Senate membership comprises patients and carers with strategic experience in patient involvement and the co-production of health and care services. The Senate provides expert input and advice to EMAHSN programmes ensuring that patient involvement and co-production are at the heart of the organisation.

In this blog Senate member Amanda Roberts shares her experience as well as pivotal moments from her time being part of the Senate.

We are currently seeking a Senior Lead Innovation and Improvement Projects lead to join our team.

In this blog current members of staff in these roles, share from their perspectives what it’s like working for EMAHSN and the job satisfaction they have.

Find out more about the role and how to apply on our recruitment web page here.

Gemma Summerson, Senior Innovation Lead, Innovation & Improvement projects lead

Being a part of the innovation arm of the NHS, my role within EMAHSN is unique and aligns with my values of advocacy and making a difference which gives me an authentic sense of job satisfaction.

The East Midlands AHSN has been supporting local NHS trusts to adopt the gammaCore device as part of the delivery of the Accelerated Access Collaborative’s MedTech Funding Mandate (MTFM) policy.

The MTFM policy aims to accelerate equitable patient access to medical technologies that are clinically effective, cost saving in three years (as determined by NICE) and affordable to the NHS (costs not exceeding £20 million).

The AHSN Network has been commissioned to support local systems with the implementation planning and business case development for those devices included in the policy.

How we are supporting health and care systems to address health inequalities

The Covid-19 pandemic shone a light on the health inequalities faced by our local communities – in how they can access services, in health outcomes and in life expectancy among many other factors.

Across the board, health and care systems are prioritising tackling health inequalities in our recovery from the pandemic.

In this blog, EMAHSN Managing Director Nicole McGlennon discusses how the AHSNs can support this agenda to ensure new innovations and transformation benefit all our communities.

Glen Howard heads up the newly launched EMAHSN Analytics and Evaluation Service, based in Nottingham. Here, he tells us about the specialist data expertise and support the team is providing for the health and care system and how you could access it.

Tell us about the Analytics and Evaluation Service (AES) – how did it come about?

The Analytics and Evaluation Service came about by expanding our existing expertise in analytics for innovation by adding evaluation expertise to the team.

The team already had extensive experience at working with data, within and with the health and care system, as well as with commercial innovators, to transform care for patients.

The East Midlands Digital Health Accelerator is designed to help companies with the adoption and spread of their digital technologies and innovations within the health and care sector. These companies have real potential to make a positive impact on our NHS.

As part of our programme members receive a tailored package of bespoke support and expert guidance. Support is adapted to the needs of the company depending on what stage they are at and includes one to one support, coaching, and masterclasses.

We are now half way through the programme for this year, in this blog Nick Hamilton who leads the EMDHA reflects on the programme highlights so far.

Theme: loneliness

“Loneliness is affecting more and more of us in the UK and has had a huge impact on our physical and mental health during the pandemic. That is why we have chosen it as our theme for Mental Health Awareness Week 2022. Our connection to other people and our community is fundamental to protecting our mental health so we must find better ways of tackling the epidemic of loneliness.

We can all play a part in this. The week is also an invaluable opportunity for people to talk about all aspects of mental health, with a focus on providing help and advice.” Mark Rowland, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/ 

In this blog Michaela Thompson, EMAHSN Senior Improvement Lead and Freedom to Speak up Guardian for the organisation reflects on her personal experience to mark mental health awareness week.

This week is Patient Safety Awareness Week, an annual campaign from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). This well-respected world-wide initiative underpins much of the work we deliver through our Patient Safety Collaborative, to improve people’s safety when they use health and care services.

It seems obvious that we should all aspire to deliver safer care, but is not necessarily simple to achieve. Safety for staff and those who receive care is dependent on a number of factors including the use of clear, evidence-based practice and processes, as well as positive safety culture and learning environment.

Barriers can come from many places: misunderstood communication, unhelpful culture, or increasing demands on staff time, which reduce the time to learn and consider what could be improved.

Pronouns – They/Them

February marks LGBTQ+ history month, in support of this Dr Nat Thorne covers the importance of getting language right and the mental health impacts this can have on the trans community.

Nat spent 16 years as an LGBTQ journalist before completing a Masters in Psychology Research Methods at the University of Nottingham. Following this Nat then went on to complete a PhD which examined the role of language in the mental health of non-binary individuals.

Nat now works for the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health as Education, Evaluation and Research Associate – as a result of this Nat runs educational workshops, works as a community liaison, and produces educational resources.