Innovation Scouts
Last updated: 21 January 2010
The NHS innovation hub in the east of England – Health Enterprise East – has been piloting an Innovation Scout Scheme with four PCTs and Trusts in the region. Given the success of the pilot, NHS East of England is working with Health Enterprise East to expand the scheme to 20 PCTs and Trusts in 2009/10, providing resources to train and support this wider scout network.
In the pilot study, Health Enterprise East trained and supported four nominated scouts to both promote and seek out innovations in their Trusts. The scouts have each devoted two days per month to this activity. The results have been of great benefit to the Trusts which participated in terms of increased innovation flow, increased innovation and intellectual property awareness, along with the enhanced personal development and satisfaction of all those involved.
The expanded scheme will see the scouts adopt a dual role:
- identifying and presenting evidenced-based innovations from elsewhere in the region and beyond for adoption and diffusion within their own organisations
- identifying new innovations generated by their own staff for review and development
The scouts will have a key role in the regional innovation strategy to improve the quality, productivity and preventative aspects of NHS services (the QIPP initiative).
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