December 2017

27 December 2017

Are you a start-up or a small to medium-sized enterprise working in the West Midlands to deliver improved healthcare? Do you have the potential to change how healthcare is delivered? The SME Innovation Fund can provide the support you need to help your business grow. Mercia Fund Management, a leading investment business, is collaborating with the WMAHSN to help build and support healthcare businesses across the West Midlands.

Read "Innovative life sciences SMEs in the West Midlands offered support worth up to £50k"

21 December 2017

A new Innovation Alliance for the West Midlands will come into being on 1 January 2018. The new Innovation Alliance for the West Midlands (WM) will have two principal objectives, building a thriving innovation ecosystem and catalysing collaborative innovation activity across the West Midlands. The Innovation Alliance WM will build on the legacy of Birmingham Science City, which will close at the end of 2017.

Read "Launch of a new Innovation Alliance for the West Midlands in 2018"

20 December 2017

Social media can be useful to health professionals in the management of coronary heart disease, according to a trial undertaken by the Heart Centre at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM). The UHNM Cardiac Rehabilitation Service was supported by Stoke Clinical Commissioning Group and funded by the West Midlands Academic Health Science Network, to develop the use of social media in clinical practice at the trust.

Read "Social media useful in the management of heart disease, according to WMAHSN-supported trial"

19 December 2017

A physiotherapist at a north Staffordshire trust has had her article on the use of social media in managing heart patients published in a premium journal. Sonya Meigh, Lead Physiotherapist in Cardiac Rehabilitation at The Heart Centre, University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) in Stoke-on-Trent, has been published by the British Journal of Cardiac Nursing.

Read "Stoke physio working on WMAHSN-supported social media project is published in premium journal"

19 December 2017

WMAHSN is seeking proposals for inclusion in the EIT Health 2019 business plan. The call document covers the original three pillars: education; innovation and acceleration; and societal challenges.

Read "Call for proposals for the 2019 EIT Health business plan open now! "

18 December 2017

The West Midlands Patient Safety Collaborative is seeking expressions of interest for Human Factors in healthcare projects funded jointly by the Patient Safety Collaboratives (West Midlands, Eastern and East Midlands) and Health Education England (Midlands and East). Shortlisted applications will be invited to pitch at a Dragon’s Lair event on the 9 February and successful projects will start on 1 April.

Read "Expressions of interest for Human Factors in healthcare projects sought"

18 December 2017

A book which functions as both a workbook and practical resource to help people make positive change happen, in organisations, communities, businesses, charities and individually - supported by WMAHSN's Patient Safety Collaborative - is now available to buy. Reflections is Appreciating People’s latest publication, a combination of appreciative journaling, a gratitude diary and skills and techniques to develop Appreciative Inquiry practice.

Read "WMAHSN-supported appreciative inquiry book out now"

15 December 2017

AHSNs have a clear role in helping the NHS overcome the barriers to making the most of new innovations, according to a new report from a healthcare industry body. While the government has largely accepted the Accelerated Access Review recommendations, crucial issues are yet to be addressed. In response, the Association of British Healthcare Industries has commissioned a new report on the practical steps needed to facilitate the adoption of technology in the NHS.

Read "AHSNs have key role in helping NHS to make the most of innovations, according to new report"

13 December 2017

A company producing the world's first test for the diagnosis and management of multiple myeloma - based on technology originally developed at the University of Birmingham - has announced the completion of a £1.1m funding round. The company's products include Seralite®, a test which provides multiple myeloma results within 10 minutes rather than days or weeks, and enables clinicians to monitor patients in real time, supporting faster decision making. 

Read "World-first myeloma device developed at University of Birmingham part of £1.1m fundraise"

12 December 2017

The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy has published its ambitious policy paper, Industrial Strategy: building a Britain fit for the future, which has wide-ranging repercussions for the West Midlands' economy. The paper sets out how the government will boost productivity and earning power by focusing on the five foundations of productivity. The report also commits to continue to build the Midlands Engine to help create prosperous communities throughout the region.

Read "Government publishes Industrial Strategy - with implications for West Midlands' growth"

11 December 2017

With regret, the WMAHSN has announced that the planned Digital Health Summit, due to be held tomorrow (12 December) at iCentrum in Birmingham, has been postponed due to recent heavy snowfall and subsequent travel disruption across the West Midlands,

Read "Digital health summit postponed due to adverse weather "

11 December 2017

A video covering a recent sell-out conference celebrating Learning from Excellence (LfE) is now available on the web. LfE aims to identify, appreciate, study and learn from episodes of excellence in frontline healthcare, supported by Appreciating People and the West Midlands Patient Safety Collaborative. Attendees share their experiences of LfE in the video, reflecting on the event and how they will apply LfE in their working lives to improve the safety and quality of compassionate care for patients.

Read "Video celebrates Learning From Excellence event"

8 December 2017

An innovative programme working to link start up social enterprises with a Health and Social Care Enterprise Hub, supported by WMAHSN and iSE, is now recruiting for the second wave. FUSE18, due to start on 1 February 2018, is advertising for more social entrepreneurs to join, which are expected to feature a strong focus on health, wellbeing and social care. iSE provides the successful organisations with a tailored programme to raise their profile and support their access to the NHS and social care supply chain.

Read "Innovative programme now recruiting health and social care social enterprises and mentors"

7 December 2017

The first ever festival to celebrate Coventry’s older residents, featuring exercise classes, dance workshops, expert talks and discussions and supported by WMAHSN, took place in October 2017. Take a look at this video for a flavour of what went on over the two days of the festival.

Read "New video celebrates city's older residents at Coventry Life Festival "

4 December 2017

Students from Keele University had the rare opportunity to rub shoulders with leading researchers at a leading conference, presenting their work with WMAHSN on children's health. The medical students had posters of their work with the WMAHSN Long Term Conditions Network accepted by the Society for Academic Primary Care North conference, held in Kendal on 23 - 24 November.

Read "Keele University medical students exhibit WMAHSN work at leading conference"