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Three London Trusts receive £128,000 to develop innovative projects for patients

More than £120,000 has been awarded to three NHS organisations in London as part of an NHS England’s fund to help change patients’ lives and improve care through innovation.

The South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, East London NHS Foundation Trust and Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust working in collaboration with University College London each received funding from the £2.5m Regional Innovation Fund. This national programme was launched in April to support and promote the adoption and spread of innovation across the NHS and provides opportunities for clinicians to work in new ways driving innovation which can change patients’ lives.

NHS England (London) Regional Director Dr Anne Rainsberry said: “Once again frontline clinicians and NHS managers are proving that – given the chance – the NHS can be one of the most innovative health services in the world.

“I am delighted that three of the successful projects are in London. The range of programmes from the successful London applicants shows there is a real appetite from our clinicians to think outside the box to deliver excellent services to patients.”

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) received £50,200 to further develop and expand Myhealthlocker.  Myhealthlocker is a patient-focused website, which allows service users to take a more active role in their recovery and wellbeing. Through access to their care plan, mental health information and interactive health measures, the site empowers patients to become more involved with their care team, in managing their physical and mental health.

The Regional Innovation Fund will allow South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) to expand myhealthlocker to 20 primary care sites in Southwark and Lambeth.

David Newton, Programme Manager for myhealthlocker, said:  “SLaM is delighted to have received support from NHS England’s Regional Innovation Fund.  This will allow us to take the next step in progressing myhealthlocker in primary care settings, and support our patients in managing both their physical and mental health.”

The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, working in collaboration with University College London and charity Asthma UK, received £2,850 through the Regional Innovation Fund to further develop its school awareness project ‘Speak Up for Asthma.’ The programme trains medical students to deliver interactive sessions in schools across north London. The funding will allow the project to expand its reach by doubling the number of medical students being trained and primary schools involved in the project.

Dr Rahul Chodhari, consultant Paediatrician and project lead said: “We are very happy. This grant will allow us to expand our education resource by training up a larger number of asthma champions. Our hope is that we will be able to roll out or training programme to more medical schools that have shown an interest. This would allow us to increase our coverage to nearly 10,000 children and improve awareness of asthma in schools across London.”

East London NHS Foundation Trust received £75,000 to develop films and storytelling techniques to raise staff awareness and skills in three areas: dementia, post-natal depression and end of life care.

Professor Jonathan Warren, Director of Nursing at the Trust said “I am delighted that we have been awarded this funding to deliver these innovative and moving training films.

Our original film about Abdul highlighted to all staff – from receptionists to Board members – how we can adapt our behaviour to provide even better support for people with early onset dementia. It really can be the simple things that make all the difference.

Going forward, we are pleased to be able to deliver two more powerful films aimed at changing behaviour across the Trust to improve the patient experience.”

Bids for the Regional Innovation Fund were invited from all NHS organisations, including acute trusts, Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs), and Clinical Commissioning Groups. Organisations were also encouraged to work with their health and social care partnerships to collaborate on the development of their bids.

Through the fund, organisations could apply for sums up to £50,000 for individual applications and up to £250,000 for those working collaboratively.

More than 600 organisations applied for money from the fund to invest in new, innovative practice or to develop existing areas. Of the 600 application, 46 winners were chosen and awarded money to invest in their idea.