The Health Innovation Network was established by NHS England in 2013 to improve health and generate economic growth in regionally distinct ways and consists of 15 regional bodies. 

‘We're about how the NHS helps to improve the way we deliver care for patients through adopting health innovation at scale,' Stubbs explained. 

‘I think the interesting thing about our world is how we do that and also have one eye on how that helps economic growth for UK Plc.

‘A win-win for us is bringing a health innovation opportunity to the NHS in a way that transforms the way we deliver care, improves patient experience and outcomes, and helps our life science sector to grow.'

The Network is commissioned at a national level by NHS England and the Government's Office for Life Sciences (OLS) to deliver innovation projects. 

‘We have a really good commissioner from the OLS who effectively represents Government to us and helps us to demonstrate our value to the wider Government mission-led approach to healthcare,' Stubbs explained. 

‘Having done this job for over 10 years now, I think the economic growth of what we do feels like it's becoming mainstreamed into the NHS as a whole.' 

The Network's mission is clearly aligned with the Government's vision for the power of the NHS to drive economic growth being a core component of future health and economic policy. 

Within this context, the Network is taking an active role in partnering on WorkWell pilots with the DWP across the country that aim to get the long-term sick back into the workplace. 

In addition, Health Innovation Manchester has partnered with pharmaceutical company Lilly on the development of the weight loss drug tirzepatide. The five-year study will collect data on healthcare resource utilisation, health-related quality of life and changes in participants' employment status and sick days from work.

‘Most people will quite rightly see the role of the NHS in keeping people healthy and helping people get back to health,' noted Stubbs. ‘There's obviously a clear, direct line throughout on how that translates into people being able to maintain their work or to go and get new jobs.' 

In turn, the Network's mission to help grow a vibrant life sciences sector helps create high-value jobs and boosts UK productivity. 

Through its work, the Network draws together the NHS, research and academia, and life sciences to drive innovation. 

‘Our staff are very much embedded in the local NHS delivery system so they know the challenges and the priority areas they want to tackle,' Stubbs said. 

‘But equally they are working with the life sciences sector to help them understand where the markets are and what things the NHS needs to prioritise.' 

The Network has a pipeline of over 1,500 innovations with something to offer the NHS, Stubbs said. 

‘It starts with that conversation about how we get life sciences and our NHS colleagues in the same room to talk about what matters to them both equally,' Stubbs added. 

With the life sciences sector having been identified as of one of eight strategic areas of importance under the Government's industrial strategy, Stubbs noted it clearly had a clear role in the future prosperity of the NHS. 

‘Life sciences has an awful lot to offer in terms of promising new products and innovations that are going to help our operational delivery challenges,' Stubbs said. ‘But equally the NHS needs to recognise its role in supporting a vibrant life sciences sector because of the investment and jobs it creates and the fact we are in global competition.' 

Stubbs highlighted how innovation would play a core role in the Government's development of its three shifts: analogue to digital; treatment to prevention; and hospital to community. 

‘This isn't going to be about an extra 500-600,000 colleagues but about working smarter,' he noted. 

Delivering new technology is also central to the Network's role but Stubbs noted this was not about delivering ‘widgets' but ‘pathways to change'. 

Highlighting that funding was often a barrier to new tech adoption, Stubbs said it was the Networks' role to help find ways to support implementation funding. 

The Health Innovation Network chair said ICBs had a key role to play in providing funding that delivers innovation throughout the healthcare system from primary to community care. 

The 15 local Health Innovation Networks play a key role in liaising with ICBs to deliver local solutions. 

‘My staff are able to go to our national network and find out what's happening nationally and go back to their ICBs and say "these are the options we have",' Stubbs explained. 

In delivering innovation and the adoption of new technologies, Stubbs said the Network remained mindful of not exacerbating existing health inequalities and leaving underserved communities behind. In this context, InHIP (Innovation for Healthcare Inequalities Programme) focuses on delivering in a way that benefits underserved groups. 

As an example, Stubbs highlighted how Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber had partnered with England Boxing to access the traveller community. 

Nationally, the Network is also playing a key role in the development of the 10-Year Health Plan through its consultation work and via working groups such as the Life Science and Innovation Group. 

The Network is also playing its part in helping the Government meet the ambitious targets set out in its Elective Care Plan. 

‘It's hugely important that we are able to play our part in showing what are the priority innovations that need to be considered that are going to have the biggest impact,' Stubbs explained. 

Summing up, the Health Innovation Network chair said he was ‘optimistic' about the Government hitting its ambitious productivity and waiting list targets. 

‘I'm really optimistic,' he said. ‘I think the NHS is going to grip this challenge and get through it. 

‘I think we'll get through it stronger like we saw with Covid. 

‘When the NHS is faced with a huge challenge, it makes the NHS have to innovate. 

‘We're seeing people are now having to think differently about to tackle some of these challenges.' 

If you would like to appear in The Big Interview email Lee Peart at l.peart@hgluk.com