Foreword Welcome This year, we celebrate 75 years since the NHS was established. In addition, 2023 marks 10 years since the Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs) were created by NHS England to transform the way in which the NHS identifies, adopts and spreads innovations. Over the past decade, AHSNs have established themselves as an important part of how the NHS works, innovates and supports the workforce to deliver better services for patients. While we are a national network with a common approach to supporting the introduction of innovative technologies, devices and care pathways into the NHS, our licence to operate is derived from our trusted relationships, at a local level, with clinicians, staff, industry and academia. Our impact is underpinned by some impressive data. Since 2018 (the earliest year that the data was collected), the AHSN Network has supported life sciences companies and innovators to leverage more than 1.3 billion of investment in the period to March 2022, and to create or secure more than 5,400 highvalue jobs. This represents nearly a fourfold return on investment for every 1 of funding from the Office for Life Sciences1. Across England, we have also delivered significant clinical impact, including: l Our Focus ADHD programme, which has helped more than 50,000 people to benefit from an objective test to support diagnosis of ADHD. l Supporting more than 2,100 16-25-year-olds with eating disorders to access NICE-recommended early intervention treatment programmes, giving them a better chance of full recovery2. l Between 2015 and 2020, preventing an estimated 12,000 strokes thanks to AHSN Network initiatives to detect and treat atrial fibrillation, saving approximately 2,900 lives. This equates to saving 158 million in NHS costs and 105 million Since 2018, the AHSN Network has supported life sciences companies and innovators to leverage more than 1.3 billion of investment in the three years to March 2022, and to create or secure more than 5,400 jobs in social care costs2. Looking forward, it was gratifying to see the publication of the independent Hewitt Review of NHS integrated care systems, which called for the strengthening and embedding of a culture of research and innovation in the health and care sector. The report acknowledges the AHSN Networks vital role in identifying and spreading best practice, innovative clinical pathways, and proven interventions across health and care systems. Turning to Eastern AHSN, it has been a pleasure and a privilege to have acted as chief executive over the past five years. I am proud of the many trusted relationships our team enjoys with colleagues and partners across the East of England, and the beneficial impact on patients, staff and industry that our collaborations have created. On the previous page, we explain more about what we do and on the following page we have created an infographic that sets out some local highlights from this year. This review covers the impact we have delivered throughout the East of England and beyond in 2022/23, including an increased focus on fostering an innovation culture, tackling health inequalities, and supporting innovators to turn their great ideas into positive health impact. We havent been able to cover everything weve achieved this year, but we would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you with whom we have collaborated as we look to build on our impact in 2023/24 and beyond. Piers Ricketts Tracy Dowling Chief Executive Chair References The AHSN Network. (2023). 10-year anniversary of AHSNs. [Online]. AHSN Network. Last Updated: 14 April 2023. Available at: www.ahsnnetwork.com/blogs/10-yearanniversary-of-ahsns [Accessed 14 April 2023]. 2 The AHSN Network. (2022). Supporting the detection of atrial fibrillation and optimising treatment. [Online]. AHSN Network. Available at: www.ahsnnetwork.com/case_ studies/supporting-the-detection-of-atrial-fibrillation-and-optimis [Accessed 20 December 2022]. 1