NHS England has today launched a new scheme inviting applications to oversee the NHS Innovation Fellowship that will help improve patient care and deliver value for money.

The NHS Innovation Fellowship will bring together 15 world-class innovators to work with NHS senior leaders, clinicians and Academic Health Science Network leaders to embed and foster a culture of innovation across the health and care system.

The scheme sits alongside a number of other initiatives developed in response to Innovation Health and Wealth – Accelerating Adoption and Diffusion in the NHS, published in December 2011, which set out actions to create a culture and system for innovation in the NHS.

Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, Medical Director of NHS England, said:

“Promoting innovation and accelerating spread of best ideas and treatments is key to our ambition to make the NHS the best healthcare system in the world. But we need help. The Innovation Fellowship offers an exciting opportunity for us all to learn from leading international innovators for the benefit of our patients.”

The organisation or group of external organisations awarded the role of Host for the Innovation Fellowship will hold responsibility for operating and securing funding for the scheme.

Miles Ayling, Director of Innovation and Service Improvement for NHS England said:  

“Spreading new ideas at pace and scale in the NHS through innovation can transform the quality of care patients receive, and deliver better value for money. This new and groundbreaking programme will mean that the NHS has access to some of the world’s leading thinkers and innovators, who will provide their time and expertise free of charge, to help with this transformation.”

Organisations wishing to learn more about the opportunity to partner with NHS England to deliver the NHS Innovation Fellowship, and how to apply should visit www.england.nhs.uk/nhsinnovationfellowship. Applications are invited from today for an eight-week period.