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In this final episode, we hear from some of those who’ve contributed to the podcast series and get reaction and comment from Tayo Owodunni, the NHS Programme Manager for Health Innovation Network Commissions.
 
Tayo, who has a public health background and previously provided programme management for the COVID-19 multi-agency test and trace programme, explains where the idea for NIPP came from and his involvement in its rollout.

Hear Tayo’s reaction to discussions in earlier episodes in this series about programmes that are improving disparities in healthcare including remote monitoring, community engagement, and digital technology. We are reminded of the importance of co-production and community involvement in addressing health inequalities through the example of the Heal-D programme, which is a response to people of African and Caribbean heritage being at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. 

We close with an insight into Tayo’s thoughts on what the future holds for NIPP and how he sees the programme progressing over the coming months and years.

In conversation with Nigel Thompson is:

Tayo Owodunni, NHS Programme Manager for Health Innovation Network Commissions

In the second part of our NHS NIPP podcast about reducing impact on hospitals, we explore innovative approaches to patient care post-COVID-19. 


We are joined by Professor Dame Caroline Watkins, Professor of Stroke and Older People's Care within the University of Central Lancashire’s Faculty of Health and Care for an insightful discussion on collaborative team efforts in the Northwest, specifically in neonatal care, highlighting initiatives to reduce preterm babies' hospital stays by offering additional support at home and highlighting the importance of understanding needs and tailoring support to suit different family circumstances.

Stuart Jeffery, a Senior Research Fellow at the National Institute for Health and Care Research’s Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex (NIHR ARC Kent, Surrey and Sussex) at the University of Kent, shares insights into a discharge-to-assess model for older patients, emphasising the need for improved efficiency and improving access to healthcare. The discussion delves into the role of technology with considerations for remote monitoring and digital advancements and highlights barriers to be overcome, such as culture, funding and governance.

In conversation with Nigel Thompson are:

Professor Dame Caroline Watkins, Professor of Stroke and Older People's Care within the University of Central Lancashire’s Faculty of Health and Care ,one of just two nursing professors of stroke care in the UK, and Implementation lead for the National Institute for Health and Care Research’s Applied Research Collaboration North West Coast (NIHR ARC North West Coast).

Stuart Jeffery, Senior Research Fellow at the National Institute for Health and Care Research’s Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex (NIHR ARC KSS) at the University of Kent

Hear about NHS NIPP initiatives that are reducing impact on hospitals and addressing health inequalities. 

Louise Hall, Evaluation Lead for Health Innovation South West explores their Community Assessment & Treatment Unit (CATU) initiative to enable frail, older patients to be treated closer to home while also reducing hospital admissions. In Sheffield, a different approach is being taken and Professor Suzanne Mason from the University of Sheffield’s School of Health and Related Research discusses how multidisciplinary teams working in urgent care hubs are reducing hospital admissions, mainly in older people, by accepting referrals for patients who don’t need to go to hospital. 

Professor Dan Lasserson, who is the only Professor of Ambulatory Care in the UK and is based at the University of Warwick, focuses on a research programme examining hospital-level care at home for frail older adults. 

All three emphasise the importance of understanding culture change in healthcare and the importance of different groups working together to meet diverse needs and enable sustainable innovation. These initiatives aim to improve patient and carer experiences and offer solutions to health inequalities by providing effective care outside of traditional hospital settings.

In conversation with Nigel Thompson are:

Louise Hall, Evaluation Lead from the Health Innovation South West team (before joining the team in 2016, Louise worked in the charity sector, leading evaluation activities and analysis at Marie Curie and Co-ordinated Action Against Domestic Abuse).

Professor Suzanne Mason is from the University of Sheffield’s School of Health and Related Research. She is Deputy Director and Urgent Care theme lead at the National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration Yorkshire and Humber (NIHR ARC Yorkshire and Humber) and the national NIHR ARCs lead for Urgent and Emergency Care. With close ties to Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, she’s also a consultant in the emergency department at the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Professor Dan Lasserson is the only Professor of Ambulatory Care in the UK and is based at the University of Warwick. He is Acute Care Interfaces theme lead at the National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration West Midlands (NIHR ARC West Midlands).

In this episode, four guest discuss health inequalities in England.

Listen in as Aoife Molloy, NHS England’s Senior Clinical Advisor for Health and Equality, and Jo Dumville, Professor of Applied Research at the University of Manchester, where she leads the Manchester Wounds Research Group, discuss healthcare inequalities in England. 

They emphasise that these inequalities are systematic, avoidable and result in unfair differences in health outcomes among different groups of people. They reference the COVID-19 pandemic and the rapid implementation of vaccination programmes. The conversation moves into how the Core 20 plus 5 strategy, which is taking learning from COVID-19 into the longer term, aims to address inequalities by focusing on the 20% most deprived in the country and five key clinical areas through community engagement, national support programmes and by tracking inequalities improvement.

We are also joined by Sophie Lowry, Implementation and Involvement Manager from the Health Innovation Network South London and Sandra Tomlinson, who is a lay educator in the HEAL-D programme, which is a response to people of African and Caribbean heritage being at higher risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes, particularly at a younger age than other groups. They discuss the success of the HEAL-D programme (Healthy Eating and Active Lifestyles for Diabetes) which addresses a lack of awareness about food choices, and the importance of community involvement in its design. Hear about the role NHS NIPP has played in evaluating and scaling up HEAL-D.

In conversation with Nigel Thompson are:



Aoife Molloy, NHS England’s Senior Clinical Advisor for Health and Equality 

Jo Dumville, Professor of Applied Research at the University of Manchester and deputy lead for Evaluation at the National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration Greater Manchester (NIHR ARC Greater Manchester)

Sophie Lowry, Implementation and Involvement Manager from the Health Innovation Network South London and part of the National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration South London's (NIHR ARC South London) Implementation and Involvement team. 

Sandra Tomlinson, who is a facilitator for the HEAL-D programme

In this edition we discuss how digital monitoring is making a difference and hear the experiences of three guests. 

Hear a conversation that navigates through the healthcare disparities highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic and moves on to discuss the critical role played by NHS NIPP in evaluating innovative projects, revealing that overcoming cultural acceptance challenges is more pivotal than financial or technological hurdles in healthcare innovation. 

The discussion includes real-world examples from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Oxford and Thames Valley, Health Innovation Oxford and Thames Valley's virtual stroke clinics, and NIHR ARC Wessex and Health Innovation Wessex's exploration of remote monitoring for frailty in an aging population. A theme throughout is how adopting digital monitoring innovations is a team game, requiring a balanced approach between virtual and face-to-face care, and understanding what’s most important to patients, carers and doctors.

In conversation with Nigel Thompson are:

Dr David Kryl, Director of Insight at Health Innovation Wessex

Dr Jennifer Lynch, Senior Research Fellow and project lead at the National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration East of England (NIHR ARC East of England).

Tracey Marriott, Director of Clinical Innovation Adoption, Health Innovation Oxford and Thames Valley 

Patient safety programmes form a large part of the AHSN Network’s work – a refreshed patient safety plan was delivered earlier this year – and patients play a central role in their development.
Greg Stringer talks to four individuals about their contributions to patient engagement.
Wendy Westoby is a stroke survivor and Heart Hero who campaigns to raise awareness of high blood pressure.
Debbie Parkinson is Public Involvement Lead at the Innovation Agency and organises Heart Hero activities.
Graham Smith is a patient who suffers from chronic pain.
Natasha Callender is a Senior Project Manager at Health Innovation Network and runs a project to which Graham has contributed.
Read about the AHSN Network’s patient and public involvement work: https://www.ahsnnetwork.com/priorities/patient-and-public-involvement-and-co-production/
Read the AHSN Network’s Patient safety in partnership report: https://www.ahsnnetwork.com/national-publications/patient-safety-in-partnership-june-2023/
Find your regional AHSN: https://www.ahsnnetwork.com/about-us/your-local-ahsn/