Innovation is invention, adoption of new ideas and the diffusion of existing ideas. Innovation and improvement both have a focus on building skills and knowledge and supporting organisations to be more responsive to the needs of the population they serve.

From 1 April 2009, Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) were given a legal duty to promote innovation and continuous improvement in the commissioning and provision of health care.

The overall aims for the Innovation programme at NHS South Central are to:

• Focus innovation effort on the rapid, affordable transformation of services
• Centre our innovation effort on rapidly improving quality and productivity and deliver a focus on prevention
• Promote a focus on innovation to help improve the patient experience
• Encourage a climate of collaboration around innovation between health care organisations, together with higher education, industry and the public and third sectors
• Facilitate the development of an innovation culture and capabilities at strategic, service and individual levels in the NHS
• Ensure ideas are quickly translated into sustainable practice across South Central SHA.

The Innovation programme selects projects following a set of criteria. Projects selected have been chosen for their opportunity to deliver a desirable outcome for the health economy. Projects also fit within a particular programme, part of the SHAs eight former clinical pathways.

Innovation projects

Details of each innovation project are set out below. Information includes brief details of the project, the grant allocated, the problem it addresses, the proposed solution and the benefits.

Staying Healthy

Title : Disease Containment Zones
Size : 12 kB

Maternity and Newborn

Title : Digipen
Size : 11 kB

Children and Young People

Title : Newborn Hearing Assessment
Size : 12 kB

Long Term Conditions

Title : Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Insomnia
Size : 14 kB

Title : Improving Oral Hydration
Size : 13 kB

Title : Inhaler training
Size : 13 kB

Title : Message dynamics
Size : 12 kB

Title : Solcom
Size : 11 kB

Acute Care

Title : Helpline
Size : 11 kB

Title : TOE
Size : 11 kB

Title : Ultrafiltration
Size : 12 kB

Title : VitalPAC
Size : 12 kB

Planned Care

Title : Intraoperative Goal Directed Fluid Management
Size : 11 kB

Title : Musculoskeletal
Size : 14 kB

Title : Silver alloy coated catheters
Size : 11 kB

Title : Teledermatology
Size : 14 kB

Mental Health and Learning Disabilities

Title : Clinical leadership for Dementia
Size : 14 kB

Title : Mental Health Anti-stigma campaign
Size : 11 kB

Title : Nurse-led Dementia Service
Size : 13 kB

End of Life Care

Title : DNACPR
Size : 13 kB