Applications are now open for a place on a programme supporting digital innovation across health and care in south west London.
The South West London ICS Digital Pioneer Fellowship programme will help up to 40 people employed by the NHS and local authority organisations in south west London to design and lead health and care transformation projects underpinned by digital innovation.
The programme is designed to equip fellows with new skills and knowledge, from building good business cases and using Agile as a project delivery technique, to structuring a good evaluation and implementing change management principles.
It connects fellows to like-minded peers, influencers in the system and people who can mentor them and participants have access to workshops, resources and events throughout the year.
The programme is aimed at people at any level and from a range of disciplines including clinicians, allied health professionals and operational staff.
The deadline for applications is 23.59 on Sunday 4 June 2023. More information and details of how to apply can be found at https://digitalhealth.london/our-work/digital-pioneer-fellowship/.
To hear from the team running the programme and previous participants, sign up to the 101 Webinar, on Wednesday 17 May 10am-11am at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIkfu-trDotHNRNEPkRw5HRaj9xZ0pwzvaz
DigitalHealth.London is delivered by the Health Innovation Network. The South West London ICS Digital Pioneer Fellowship builds on DigitalHealth.London’s Digital Pioneer Fellowship programme.
Matthew Laundy, Chief Clinical Information Officer at NHS South West London, said: “We are thrilled to announce our partnership with the Health Innovation Network to deliver South West London Integrated Care System’s Digital Pioneer programme. This programme is the first of its type to be delivered at an integrated care system level.”
Martin Ellis, Chief Digital Information Officer for NHS South West London, said: “Our goal is to enhance digital leadership skills, facilitate health and care transformation and establish a supportive and collaborative network throughout the region.
“We are excited about the opportunities this collaboration will bring and look forward to working together to drive innovation and improve health and care outcomes for the people of south west London.”
Samantha Mason, Health and Care Lead, South London Partnership, said: “Social care services are facing many challenges including supporting more people with more complex needs to live as safe and as independent lives as possible, having a sufficiently skilled and sustainable workforce and decreasing budgets.
“There is a huge opportunity for innovation to help tackle these challenges and the South West London ICS Digital Pioneer Fellowship programme is a fantastic initiative to support this innovation. I would encourage any individual working in a local authority on a health and care transformation project which includes a major digital element to apply to be part of the programme.”
So far, 112 people have taken part in Digital Pioneer Fellowship programmes and all their projects have led to either improved patient care or experience or both, either directly or indirectly. More than 10 million patients and 140,000 NHS and social care staff were estimated to be impacted by the projects of the 37 fellows who participated in the third wave of the Digital Pioneer Fellowship programme.
Some 60% of fellows in the third group reported a promotion, new job or secondment during the support and 80% could cite specific examples of positive gain from the network. Across the first three groups, 55 digital technologies have been adopted in total.
Sara Nelson, Programme Director, DigitalHealth.London, said: “As a nurse with over 30 years of service to the NHS, I appreciate how challenging the changes brought about by technology can be if staff aren’t given the support, advice and time to develop the professional skills that they need.
“I am extremely proud of the individuals we have supported previously through our Digital Pioneer Fellowship programme for the contributions they have made to bringing digital innovations into London’s NHS to support patients and staff. We are very pleased to be partnering with South West London ICS to be delivering a new Digital Pioneer Fellowship programme specifically focusing on the SWL patch – the inclusion of a truly ICB wide programme will, I think, be a game-changer.”
More information about the range of digital transformation projects delivered and previous fellow can be found at https://digitalhealth.london/innovation-directory/fellows?areainnovation=§or=&technology=&cohort=311®ion=&professionalgroup=
Since 2016, DigitalHealth.London has been focusing on accelerating the adoption of digital innovation by linking health and care organisations with digital health innovators for the benefit of patients and populations.
The Health Innovation Network is the Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) for south London, one of 15 AHSNs across England. As the only bodies that connect NHS and academic organisations, local authorities, the third sector and industry, they are uniquely placed to increase the spread and adoption of innovation across large populations.