Background
Over the course of 12 months NHS Innovations East has run a successful Innovation Scout pilot study with four PCTs and Trusts in the region.
The Innovation Scouts were given a remit to seek out and promote innovations from within their own organisations and received training and support from the Innovation Hub.
The results have been of great benefit to the Trusts which participated in terms of increased innovation flow, increased innovation and intellectual property awareness, along with the enhanced personal development and satisfaction of all those involved.
Given the success of the pilot, NHS East of England is now working with us to expand the scheme to all 40 organisations within the region over the course of 2 years. Joining the scheme is free to all NHS organizations within the region. The expanded scheme will see the scouts adopt a dual role:
- identifying and presenting evidenced-based innovations from elsewhere for adoption and diffusion within their own organisation
- identifying new innovations generated by their own organisations staff for review and development
The scouts will have a key role in the regional innovation strategy to improve the quality, productivity and preventative aspects of NHS services (the QIPP initiative).