Innovation
Driving clinician-led innovation
Head of Project Management at InnoScot Health, Gillian Henderson, discusses the vital need for fresh NHS workforce-led ideas at a challenging time. She argues that we have never had a greater need to embed an innovation mindset as early as possible, in future members of the NHS workforce, and looks at how clinical innovation can be supported.
Innovation has never been more essential to healthcare. The ability to identify fresh ideas from the people closest to the issues is an enabler that simply has to be leveraged against a significantly challenging backdrop for the health service. The NHS workforce – a powerful driver of
innovation – is undoubtedly best placed to spot solutions and must be inspired to come forward and volunteer its insights derived from daily working experiences. That depth of knowledge is the reason why a significant number of solutions come from, and are most effectively developed with, its staff. They are the problem solvers, the progressive thinkers – potentially the entrepreneurs too under the right circumstances. Of course, there is opportunity for fresh
technologies to help underpin the transition to a more modern, efficient, and preventative- focused health service – artificial intelligence
(AI) and other forms of process automation software being seen to be among the key drivers – but these will only supplement human expertise. Ambitious NHS staff with great ideas will remain the true trailblazers. Despite the rise of headline-grabbing,
breakthrough tech, it also remains the case that anyone can be an innovator, regardless of role or background. Any lingering misconceptions need to be immediately demystified around that because everyone has the potential, whether through learning practical approaches to getting started on the innovation journey or discovering techniques for identifying and addressing challenges effectively. Indeed, simple ideas and minor adaptations
to existing equipment can have just as much impact as their more talked about counterparts. A great deal of transformation springs from iterations of existing interventions, modified for fresh contexts.
However, innovation cannot happen in isolation. It must be carefully nurtured with the right advice, guidance and support from others. Developing any new idea to its full potential requires education, training, and expert advice throughout the process. We have arguably never had greater need to place a strong focus on embedding an innovation mindset as early as possible in future members of the NHS workforce.
A view to the future Entering the health service must now mean not only retaining the core attributes of care, compassion, resilience, and commitment but instilling advanced thinking that is designed to hone a modern, innovative workforce – keen to spot fresh opportunities to work smarter, integrate new ideas, anticipate change, and ultimately realise better care for patients. The key to progressing that is targeted
grassroots entrepreneurial education which underlines the need for them to not only become clinical leaders, but also conveys the clear message that becoming innovation- minded and developing entrepreneurial skills represents a huge career asset. Aiming to trailblaze in NHS innovation is no longer a side project; it must be considered central to job roles in a pivotal climate of recovery and transformation, where all NHS workforce members are encouraged to contribute to an ethos of efficient change. Quality, relevant education is the means by
which that shift can take place. It is the catalyst for redefining ambitions in universities, colleges, and from the very first day of NHS careers, where continuing professional development (CPD) on learning innovative approaches has to be encouraged and facilitated. From genomic sequencing to remote monitoring, there is incredible potential in a digital age that is ushering in astonishing developments informed by comprehensive data. AI is not just a tool for better process
August 2024 I
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