The AHSN Network has supported many innovators to help advance our health and care system. Find out more about successful innovations supported by the NHS.
GammaCore is a simple-to-use, handheld medical device that enables patients to self-administer discrete doses of non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) therapy to the neck.
Of 1000 women who appropriately take Tamoxifen as chemoprevention, 30 will be prevented from developing cancer over a 5-year period. The AAC is launching this project to promote awareness, among primary care clinicians, of prescribing Tamoxifen to reduce the chance of developing breast cancer for women with familial risk of breast cancer
A happier workforce leads to better patient outcomes and improved performance. ImproveWell is a digital solution for staff engagement and collaboration, improving quality in healthcare. Together, its three feedback systems boost staff morale and empower the frontline to drive change. 24/7 everyone can: suggest ideas for improvement; share how their day at work is going; and complete pulse surveys. An intelligent dashboard helps programme leads to capture real-time data, track workforce sentiment, prioritise quality improvement efforts, and publish reports completing the feedback loop.
REACH-HF (Rehabilitation EnAblement in CHronic Heart Failure) is a facilitated evidence based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) and self-management programme for use at home. It comprises the ‘Heart Failure Manual’, a Relaxation CD, a choice of exercise (walking programme or a chair-based DVD) a ‘Progress Tracker’ for patients, and a ‘Family and Friends Resource’ for caregivers.
The Oxford AHSN Accelerator programme, in collaboration with BioCity and regional partners from the NHS, industry and research within the Thames Valley, offers a launchpad for entrepreneurs and their ventures to move from idea to market. MetaGuideX won a place on the intensive eight-week programme and pitched to investors on the final day of the Accelerator programme in November 2020.
The Oxford AHSN already enjoys a very productive relationship with the global healthcare company Johnson & Johnson (J&J). J&J is one of the largest employers linked to healthcare in our region with its headquarters in High Wycombe.
We know that NHS staff are under a significant pressure at the moment and many managers are working at home. At a time when internal comms and employee engagement has never been more important it can be challenging to keep staff supported and updated. Now many trusts are starting to be creative about their colleague engagement. Whether you want to give staff live updates on infection prevention or information about health and wellbeing initiatives in the Trust, our app can help.
FeNO (Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide) testing alongside the recommended NICE diagnostic tests, will help enable more accurate diagnosis of asthma. Over 120,000 patients a year, 30% of the asthma population, are wrongly diagnosed and given inappropriate medication. Our project will look to reduce the use of steroids and improve diagnosis, enabling correct adjustments or the right medication to be prescribed. FeNO is indicative of the severity of airway inflammation.
Less than 50% of severe asthma patients have eosinophil-driven disease (Wenzel2005) and Biologics are designed to control the number of eosinophil cells (Asthma UK). Only 10.8% of eligible severe asthma patients have access to biologic medicines today in the UK.Increasing the use of biologics appropriately would reduce use of Oral corticosteroids (OCS), associated with negative side effects, and exacerbations, causing 75,000 annual UK hospital admissions, each costing £1500.
PINCER is the Pharmacist-led Information technology iNtervention for the reduction of Clinically important ERrors in medicines management.
The improved accuracy of the high sensitivity test compared to the standard troponin test allows testing of troponin concentration and type (T or I) at 1-hour and/or 3-hours post ED presentation. This innovation adoption in both technology and pathway will greatly improve patient care and efficiency at ED, enabling patients to be sent home secure in the knowledge that a heart attack has not occurred while keeping beds free in ED.
The UK multiple sclerosis (MS) population is expected to increase annually by 2.4%1. Cladribine offers an orally administered option for highly active relapsing-remitting MS, avoiding the need for infusions, and requires less frequent dosing and monitoring compared to other therapies.
