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Last year, NHS England and NHS Improvement and the Office for Life Sciences commissioned research to explore and evaluate the views of AHSN stakeholders. The aim of the research was to understand our strengths, opportunities and any issues that can be improved on.
Savanta ComRes conducted this independent evaluation. With input from AHSNs and commissioners, they developed and ran an online survey and telephone interviews. Those taking part were stakeholders in health and social care, private and voluntary sectors, national and local governance bodies, research and academia, patient groups and the general public.
Topics covered included familiarity with and perceptions of AHSNs, evaluations of AHSNs’ communications, services, support, work programmes and cross-regional working, and perceived opportunities and challenges for AHSNs in the future.
Findings of this research have now been published as two reports:
Overall feedback about the AHSNs nationally was positive reflecting high levels of satisfaction across all stakeholder groups related to strengthening partnerships across sector boundaries and facilitating the spread and adoption of innovation. Opportunities to improve and develop included feedback that stakeholders would like to learn about the national AHSN Network and the innovations within other AHSN areas that could support their objectives.
Feedback about the East Midlands AHSN praised the friendly nature of the team and the ability to problem solve and stakeholders highlighted the in-depth support they received throughout the technology development process; from the initial design process through to the final roll out in organisations. Some further themes were identified such as providing stakeholders with the opportunity to feed into setting our priorities and continuing to make sure patients are involved in developing and spreading innovation.
Nicole McGlennon, EMAHSN Managing Director said: “I’d like to thank all of our stakeholders who took part in the survey and gave their valuable feedback. The report reinforces that our people are a real asset to us and also provides useful indications of opportunities and areas that we can improve and develop on. We will use these findings to inform our business planning and the way we communicate with our stakeholders.”