Innovation and improvement
NHS Yorkshire and the Humber aims to commission and provide world class health services to meet the needs of our population.
From April 2009 the Strategic Health Authority (SHA) took on a new legal duty to promote innovation in the NHS in Yorkshire and the Humber.
We are starting from a strong foundation. There are many examples of innovation from across our region that have led to award-winning improvements in the quality and value of services from front line staff in health and social care.
Our intentions in promoting innovation are primarily to:
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Invest to save; ensuring better services and outcomes at less cost
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Facilitate widespread access to evidence-based practice, research and development
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Enable a systematic approach to the widespread adoption and diffusion of evidence-based practice
Innovation will help us to address the big challenges set out in Healthy Ambitions, our 10 year vision for improving health and healthcare in Yorkshire and the Humber. Innovation will also help us to creatively and effectively address issues such as an ageing population, chronic disease and health inequalities, among others.
Regional Innovation Funds
A Regional Innovation Fund, funded by the Department of Health, is being made available to support innovation and the spread of best practice across the region. The fund consists of £1.94 million in 2009/10 and £5 million a year for the following four years, subject to annual confirmation from the Department of Health.
Applications for funding are invited from NHS clinicians, managers, frontline teams and partners in support of innovation across Yorkshire and the Humber. Successful projects might include new ways of delivering services, new technologies or new ways of spreading existing innovation or best practice.
The NHS Yorkshire and the Humber Board has agreed that in 2009/10 the focus for investment should be on promoting the adoption and spread of existing innovation and best practice and expect the majority of this year’s funding to be used for this purpose.
The SHA has established an Investment Panel to oversee the allocation of the fund. Details of the panel membership are provided in the attached guidance.
In 2009/10, the SHA is seeking proposals for innovation projects which plan to significantly improve both the quality and efficiency of services for patients and support the delivery of local strategic plans in the NHS in Yorkshire and the Humber. All applications must demonstrate potential for widespread adoption and spread of innovation across the region.
The five key priorities for funding in 2009/10 are:
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Developing innovative, self improving systems
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Delivery of the Healthy Ambitions pathway priorities
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Accelerating the uptake of TeleHealth technology to improve the quality and efficiency of care for people with long term conditions
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Improving provider quality and efficiency through innovation
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Improving the quality and efficiency of health and healthcare through the commissioning of innovative, high quality, efficient services.
The application process
Application forms and guidance notes can be downloaded here:
Please read guidance notes carefully and thoroughly before filling out your application.
There is a two stage application process in this round of the RIF.
Stage 1:
Applicants must submit their proposals to their lead PCT for approval by the submission deadline provided in the guidance notes. Where applicants require the support of two or more PCTs, or require the support of all PCTs please seek advice from innovation@yorksandhumber.nhs.uk. Where applicants are from a non-NHS organisation and are unsure of who their PCT lead may be, then please contact us at innovation@yorksandhumber.nhs.uk.
Where the applicant is from a non-NHS organisation, the lead PCT will need to agree to manage the contract with the private/not for profit organisation on behalf of the NHS.
Stage 2:
PCTs will review all applications and submit approved applications to the SHA by the 31st of January, and will provide direct feedback to applicants.
Funds will be paid to successful applicants via the lead commissioning PCT.
Please be aware the local deadlines for submission are available within the RIF guidance document.
Please note that all applications will be treated in the strictest confidence until any potential Intellectual Property has been assessed and, if relevant, protected.
Regional Innovation Fund – Round 1
In the first round we received 115 applications to a value of approximately £33 million. These proposals received will undoubtedly set out important programmes of work that will make a significant impact throughout the organisations in Yorkshire and the Humber.
The RIF Panel met on 23 December to review eight shortlisted applications. The result of this Panel meeting was to support forward six of the proposals with an emphasis on support and assistance throughout the duration of the programme of work.
Please see the list of successful applications below:
