AHSN supports local hospitals to quickly implement innovations

Wessex Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) has successfully supported a number of our local hospital partners to apply for funding the under the Accelerated Access Collaborative Pathway Transformation Fund (PFT).

The PTF helps healthcare providers – such as big hospitals - make new innovations everyday practice, as quickly as possible, by addressing practical obstacles staff may face when trying to make these changes.

The PTF supports training, education and awareness raising among staff, including how to use new equipment; staff time to redesign pathways; staff time needed to implement projects and new procedures.

We have supported: 

• Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to help implement placental growth factor (PLGF) testing for pre-eclampsia, and Heartflow (non-invasive coronary artery image analysis and modelling for diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease).
  
  
• Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust to help implement PLGF testing for pre-eclampsia and troponin testing (early rule-out of myocardial infarction).
  
  
• Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to implement PLGF testing for pre-eclampsia.

Joe Sladen, the AHSN’s associate director for national innovations, said: “At the AHSN, we work to help spread innovations which improve patient experience and safety. For example, innovations which will help diagnose conditions quickly, or reduce hospital stays.

“A major part of this is supporting our colleagues in the frontline NHS to help get these innovations into use, so they become business as usual. In a large, busy hospital, this can prove challenging, so supporting our colleagues to secure funds to implement these changes can be key to getting these innovations into use.”

Dr Greg Pearson, consultant obstetrician at Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We valued the support of the AHSN in introducing a NICE authorised test to help reassure our women about their risk of developing pre-eclampsia.  The AHSN undoubtably assisted our team in accessing this innovation and introducing it to our trust.”

Dr Helen Preece, specialist registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Poole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Suzi at Wessex AHSN helped us in our bid to secure funding through the PTF to implement Placental Growth Factor testing for patients with suspected pre-eclampsia at Poole Hospital.

“This funding is being used to support pathway development, educate midwives and doctors and analyse patient outcomes.  Suzi is a valued member of our team and continues to support us as we implement and develop the project.”

Peter Chapman, clinical director radiology and consultant radiologist at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The support and guidance from Wessex AHSN in introducing and effectively implementing Heartflow to our trust has been invaluable.

“The direct support from the AHSN has given me the tools and support I needed to host a multi-disciplinary pathway transformation meeting and to set up a new Cardiac CT reporting hub. This support has definitely supported our project to implement innovative new technology for the benefit of our patients.”

More about HeartFlow:

More about the PTF:

Due to funding announced by the Government in July 2017, help is available through the Accelerated Access Collaborative Pathway Transformation Fund (PTF) to help NHS organisations integrate the rapid uptake products into everyday practices. Delivered with the support of the Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs) the PTF seeks to improve equality of access to these products.

The PTF can help providers overcome practical obstacles to deploying these products, such as: training staff on how to use new equipment; pathway redesign and/or business support expertise; providing specialist nurses/clinical staff needed to implement a new part of the procedure; or covering double running costs.