Focus on: cultural change Supporting grassroots innovation Prof Phillip Smith, visiting prof at the University of Hertfordshire school of health and social work, Associate Director Research and Development East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust talks about his role as Innovation Ambassador on behalf of Eastern AHSN I nnovation ambassadors are embedded into local systems to promote and support innovative activities from within and work part time for both the NHS and the AHSN. They are tasked with developing local infrastructure and capability to adopt best practice and new technologies. They also encourage colleagues to come forward with innovative ideas and activities and communicate innovation needs back out to the AHSN Network. My background is in research and the NHS. I joined Eastern AHSN on secondment in March 2019 as the first innovation ambassador, alongside my existing position at East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust. Having insight into local needs meant I could see where Eastern AHSN could help identify appropriate solutions but also meant I could see what could be done to ensure innovations could be successfully embedded and sustained for patient benefit. Identifying ideas Eastern AHSNs role isnt just about spreading national innovations in our region its about turning great ideas into positive health impact wherever the idea has come from. As an innovation ambassador embedded within the Trust, as of March 2020, I supported eight innovators from Hertfordshire to submit 13 projects to Eastern AHSNs review panels. These ranged from an app for carers to a silicone cover to protect expensive syringe drivers. We also laid the foundations to speed up the decisionmaking pathway so that patients in Hertfordshire and beyond have faster access to the latest local and or national innovations. Being innovation ready Culture change involves everybody, of course, and this is made easier with support from senior management. It is vital that leaders see the value of the pockets of innovation that are already showing benefits. I gathered examples of local improvements to evidence the benefit of making the identification and adoption of innovation an everyday part of patient Eastern AHSNs role isnt just about spreading national innovations in our region its about turning great ideas into positive health impact wherever the idea has come from care. An innovation culture needs to also be underpinned by organisational policies, pathways and a strategy. Having clear policies on topics like intellectual property ensures transparency with innovators. Developing a strategy to support innovation ensures that risks can be accounted for, resources allocated and processes agreed to enable quick decision making. Im proud to have helped coordinate this approach across the Trust on behalf of Eastern AHSN to help provide a pipeline of innovations from the area. Potential innovators need to be supported to help develop their ideas. By strengthening the links between the Trust and Eastern AHSN, I could signpost them to the right resources and toolkits or make an introduction to the commercial team. Finally, theres no point in having a strategy and resources if they arent publicised internally and incentivised. Its essential that we reinforce our innovation culture through training and communication, as well as measuring and celebrating success. Following the successful pilot of the innovation ambassador role, Eastern AHSN has recruited ambassadors in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to support the identification, development and uptake of innovation in the region for the benefit of patients. Share this article Turninggreatideasintopositivehealthimpact There are a wide range of resources on our website tailored to support clinicians in the innovation journey. Visit EasternAHSN.org