Blogs

As part of our series of blogs looking back at ten years of East Midlands Academic Health Science Network, Kay Khan, Head of Improvement Programme Delivery, reflects on how the AHSN’s ability to bring people together has helped shift the dial for patient safety in the East Midlands. 

As the East Midlands innovation arm of the NHS, we recognise the need to try out new techniques to both ensure patients and citizens benefit from new innovative technologies and also work better with health and care systems to make this happen.

Head of Innovation Programme Delivery, Tracey Jackman discusses a new Health Inequalities programme being rolled out in the East Midlands. This blog covers the need for a programme of this kind, and how we are working with local systems to adopt this, so people who experience poorer health outcomes have better access to treatment, innovative medicines, and medical technologies.

The EMAHSN communications team is advertising for a Digital Communications Specialist. The successful post holder will be responsible for leading the delivery and creation of digital communications activity.

In this blog, Chanice Jenkins Senior Communications Manager for Digital and Corporate projects gives insight into what it’s like working at the EMAHSN as well as the opportunities the role will bring.

Professor Marion Walker has been appointed to a joint role between the East Midlands AHSN and NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) East Midlands.

Marion currently works as the ARC Equality Diversity and Inclusion Committee Chair and has spent much of her career researching and leading stroke rehabilitation, becoming recognised as a world leading authority in this area.

I have been a key advocate for the outstanding work undertaken by the Applied Research Collaborations since their creation 13 years ago. Indeed, I have been proud to hold several leadership roles within the three consecutive funding rounds.

Factors for scaling and embedding innovation

In this blog, EMAHSN Managing Director Nicole McGlennon discusses the considerations of embedding change, how can healthcare systems create the conditions for healthcare innovation adoption and identifies five key areas NHS systems can consider.

In recognition of October also being ADHD awareness month, Nicole refers to our Focus ADHD project and how AHSNs have played a part in supporting young people across the country to receive an objective diagnosis for ADHD.

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.