Member Article

Academic Health Science Network launches in region

A new network, which helps to accelerate innovation into the NHS, has officially launched with an event to connect healthcare, academia and industry in the region.

The North West Coast Academic Health Science Network (NWC AHSN), is one of 15 academic health science networks in England and works as part of the NHS to enable innovative products to spread quickly and successfully through the health and social care system.

The organisation, which is based at the Sci-Tech Daresbury Enterprise Zone in Cheshire, marked its official launch with an introductory event for local businesses, SME’s, health organisations and academics at the Daresbury Park Hotel.

Speakers on the day included Steve Fairman, Director of Business from NHS England setting the national picture for academic health science networks and Mike Farrar CBE, former Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation and independent Management Consultant.

Speaking at the event, Mr Farrar said that the “NHS needs to change” and that adopting innovation and technology in the North West coast will save and improve lives.

Covering Cheshire, Merseyside, South Cumbria and Lancashire, the NWC AHSN supports suppliers with practical and strategic advice and support as they look to tap into the market.

It specialises in five key areas, including tele-health, personalised medicine, neurosciences, infection and tropical medicine and procurement. It also works with healthcare organisations to support their specific areas of expertise.

Dr Liz Mear, Chief Executive of the North West Coast AHSN, said: “The NWC AHSN has an important role to play in accelerating innovation and collaboration in the NHS across the wider region. The North West is one of the UK’s top three biomedical clusters and we’re excited by the wide range of novel products, techniques and services being developed by companies in the region.

“Becoming an NHS supplier can involve complex procurement processes which are often difficult for smaller businesses to negotiate.

“The product life-cycle from research to widespread use in a patient care setting is an arduous one, which can take a long time- our role is to speed up that process and ensure that companies with innovative products or concepts are supported in their journey to develop their products and services for use by the NHS more quickly and more widely.”

The Network works with all parts of the NHS and its healthcare delivery partners, with the academic sector and with industry to accelerate the adoption and spread of innovation and ensure the most advanced treatments, technologies and medicines are available to health care service users.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .