Region-wide health network celebrates successes in annual report

The latest annual report from a West Midlands-wide organisation which aims to bring together healthcare, industry and academia to improve health outcomes and generate wealth across the local economy has been published.

West Midlands Academic Health Science Network (WMAHSN) launched the report atits recent Annual Stakeholder Event.

The successes and achievement of almost 40 programmes across the WMAHSN’s clinical priorities and enabling themes are covered in depth, with spotlights on individual programmes. The report illustrates how the WMAHSN has met its objectives over the past year, continuing the shift from development to delivery phase in each of the clinical priorities and enabling themes, demonstrating outcome measures and leveraging additional funding and finance.

The approach of the WMAHSN to innovation is also covered, including the opportunities for innovations process, which sets out the thematic challenges faced by the West Midlands network over the coming years. Particular areas of focus are drawn from NHS England’s Five Year Forward View, as well as the challenges presented by the local health economy, with innovative ways to reduce the burden of disease and demand on health and social care services welcomed.

Professor Michael Sheppard, Chair of the WMAHSN, said: “This year has proved to be one of very successful progress for the AHSN, building on the developmental advances made last year. WMAHSN is now over a year old, and already we are beginning to deliver on programmes that have put innovation and generating wealth at the heart of healthcare in the West Midlands.

“Over the past year, we have set more than 30 programmes in motion across our three clinical priorities and six enabling themes, with a range of diverse topics being covered and the digital health theme being particularly prevalent across our workstreams.

“In 2014/15, we have made thousands of interactions with business, academia and NHS commissioners and providers and already our projects are making a real difference to local patients and the economy.”