The Oxford Academic Health Science Network’s partners – across the NHS, academia and industry – achieved much during 2015, working together and supported by the core AHSN team.
These case studies demonstrate some of the collective successes:
- Improving recovery rates for people experiencing anxiety and depression
- Memory clinic service improvement through national accreditation
- Improved referral pathway for extremely pre-term births
- Intermittent pneumatic compression stockings reduce DVT risk in stroke care
More of the 2015 achievements are set out month-by-month below. We’re already looking forward to many more in 2016.
January
We held a workshop in Bucks bringing together over 60 innovators, clinicians, patients and commissioners to showcase smartphone apps and share digital health experiences.
Oxford West and Abingdon MP Nicola Blackwood who chairs the Commons Science and Technology Select Committee found out more about our clinical networks and innovation adoption on a visit to our new offices at the Oxford Science Park.
We hosted a meeting of the Point of Care Working Group of the British In Vitro Diagnostics Association (BIVDA).
Two of our industry partners (CFT and Isansys) each won £1m from SBRI Healthcare to develop technology to improve patient testing and monitoring – both have gone on camera to praise the support they’ve had from Oxford AHSN: Isansys / CFT.
February
We supported and contributed to the Biotech and Money event in London focusing on the role of AHSNs on the journey from innovation to adoption.
We hosted a sustainability and energy workshop which has led to the development of a number of projects with partners in the NHS and academia with potential savings running into millions.
March
Our Entrepreneur Programme was launched at Henley Business School. Two programmes were completed by the end of 2015. More to come in 2016.
Our Patient Safety Collaborative workshop drew together clinicians from a wide range of backgrounds and from across our region together to agree priorities in acute kidney injury, medication safety, reducing pressure ulcers and safety in mental health.
Our Early Intervention in Mental Health network was launched with a ringing endorsement from National Mental Health Director Geraldine Strathdee.
We sponsored a novel event which focused on opportunities to transfer technological innovation from the motorsport industry to healthcare.
April
We hosted a regional conference with acute hospital trusts to focus on best practice in intra-operative fluid management. This led to a report produced with NHS Benchmarking.
May
Our innovation poster showcase proved a major talking point at the Biotrinity biopartnering and investment conference in London. We will be running a similar showcase at the 2016 event.
June
We put the spotlight on innovation in e-healthcare and big data with Isis Innovation at our joint technology showcase. + link/photo
Our second annual partnership council meeting was a great opportunity to hear about the outcome of successful collaborations with partners across our region particularly around reducing variation, standardising protocols and supporting innovation adoption at pace and scale.
The 15 AHSNs got together to produce a first ‘Impact’ report which included a case study on the remote monitoring project for women who develop diabetes during pregnancy which the Oxford AHSN is promoting.
July
We hosted a successful first Alumni Summit bringing together key alumni of our universities now working abroad and leaders of the UK life sciences industry to look at opportunities for future collaboration. We welcomed Life Sciences minister George Freeman MP who said: “Something very special is going on here in Oxford, in this AHSN.” Watch a short video about the conference here. Read the conference report here.
August
Two of our patient partners – Carol Munt and Mark Stone – were named among the HSJ top 50 patient leaders.
September
We brought together clinicians, patients and commissioners at briefings which helped shape our final application to the NHS test bed programme, submitted jointly with Wessex AHSN, with a specific focus on keeping people with long-term conditions well and out of hospital. A decision is awaited.
A second cohort of NHS innovators became Oxford AHSN Fellows in Evidence Based Healthcare. The Masters programme is a unique collaboration with the University of Oxford, funded by Health Education England Thames Valley.
October
Isansys were named winners of the Oxford AHSN Best Public-Private Collaboration 2015 for the development of remote patient monitoring technology with the NHS.
Oxford was chosen as a regional Precision Medicine Catapult centre of excellence. The Oxford AHSN will connect partners across the NHS, universities, research and industry, harnessing big data and developing new diagnostic tests to enhance personalised care.
Most respondents in a national independent survey would recommend working with the Oxford AHSN.
An information film produced for the Oxford AHSN Imaging Network which advises patients on what to expect in an MRI scan won a prize and clocked up over 2000 views on YouTube.
A report highlighting some of the achievements of the Oxford AHSN Best Care clinical networks was published. Following a review a new Respiratory clinical network will start in April 2016.
November
Innovative work across the Oxford AHSN region was recognised in a number of influential awards events.
The Oxford AHSN entered a strategic partnership with global healthcare company Johnson & Johnson to improve patient care and health outcomes and accelerate access to new innovations.
We supported an innovation forum event which included contributions from the Dr Bruno Holthof, new Chief Executive of our host organisation, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Dr Nick Scott-Ram, our Director of Commercial Development.
December
We hosted ‘Get Physical’– a pioneering interactive event featuring Bollywood dancing and Tai Chi. The main focus was the links between activity and health with a particular focus on NHS staff and patients.
George Freeman returned to Oxford and was impressed again by a host of clinical innovations.