The North West Coast network of Innovation Scouts is being expanded to help health and care innovators convert their ideas into reality – and ultimately benefit patients.
The Innovation Scouts network is now open to healthcare professionals from all health and care settings as well as academics, innovation leads and social entrepreneurs.
Backed by the Innovation Agency, the community of practice offers a learning programme, networking and development opportunities to support innovators in pursuing their interests.
Project Manager Karla Rimaitis, who organised the Innovation Scouts launch, said the scheme aimed to harness the skills of some of the most passionate people in the region some and put them on a formal footing.
“One of our roles at the Innovation Agency is to spread innovation. That’s why we wanted to expand our forum for innovators to make connections and help bring their ideas to fruition.
“The Innovation Scouts will excel at offering solutions to some of the challenges our health and care system experiences and we wanted to make sure we could harness their energy.”
The network aims to:
- Support people in thinking creatively with practical approaches to innovation
- Foster a culture of innovation by helping organisations prepare for change, develop strategies and involve staff
- Develop an innovation pathway that focuses on appraising evidence, evaluation and the uptake and diffusion of innovation
- Develop individuals’ entrepreneurship, focusing on business skills, navigating procurement and maintaining wellbeing
The launch event highlighted the Health Innovation North West Coast, an online forum that gives colleagues across healthcare the chance to share innovations and challenges, and collaborate on ideas, projects and products to improve patient care. You can visit the site here: https://www.innovationagencyexchange.org.uk/
The network aims to attract a wide range of clinicians and health professionals from all manner of care settings, as well as academics, innovation leads and social entrepreneurs.
If you would like more information about becoming an Innovation Scout, contact karla.rimaitis@innovationagencynwc.nhs.uk
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