South West Peninsula
Academic Health
Science Network
An overview
Our membership
Our purpose
There is no shortage of talent, knowledge and skills across the NHS in the South
West. Our region has a track record for world class research, discovery and
invention.
But it is recognised nationally that the NHS needs to be better at adopting
and spreading new ideas and best practice. The new South West Peninsula
Academic Health Science Network is going to tackle this issue in Somerset,
Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
Creation of this AHSN has been achieved by unprecedented high levels of
commitment and co-operation between health organisations across the region
and the universities in Exeter and Plymouth. We expect to be authorised by the
NHS Commissioning Board in April. We are ready and have a 100 day Delivery
Plan to ensure momentum is not lost.
Kernow Clinical Commissioning
Group (Cornwall & Isles of Scilly)
North East & West Devon Clinical
Commissioning Group
Somerset Clinical Commissioning
Group
South Devon & Torbay Clinical
Commissioning Group
Cornwall Partnership NHS
Foundation Trust
Devon Partnership NHS Trust
Northern Devon Healthcare
NHS Trust
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust
AHSN partners have pledged to work together in a systematic, efficient and
inclusive way so that clinical research more rapidly and effectively translates into
best practice across all health and social care services in the South West.
Key areas we will focus on include:
• Increasing the volume, quality and use of clinical research in the NHS to
accelerate the pace of benefits for patient care
• Stepping up the rate of adoption and spread of clinical and operational best
practice so that we are working smarter and providing better value for money
• Fostering closer links with industry to be more effective at commercially
generating positive local economic benefits from research and innovation
activity
To achieve this, we must remove barriers which have hindered effective sharing
and adoption of innovation and best practice. Unless we remove these barriers
we will not achieve our goals and maximise benefit for patients.
Website: www.swpahsn.co.uk
Email enquiries to us at: info@swpahsn.co.uk
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Royal Devon & Exeter NHS
Foundation Trust
Somerset Partnership NHS
Foundation Trust
South Western Ambulance NHS
Foundation Trust
Southern Devon Healthcare NHS
Foundation Trust
Taunton & Somerset NHS
Foundation Trust
Torbay & Southern Devon Health
and Care NHS Trust
Yeovil District Hospital NHS
Foundation Trust
Plymouth University
University of Exeter
South West Peninsula Academic Health Science Network
Examples of agreed changes to overcome historic barriers include:
• Much closer working between the universities, Clinical Commissioning Groups
and health service provider organisations
• Improved education and training of healthcare staff to help them adopt new
ways of working and make better use of research
• Improved ability to understand and integrate information systems - with
appropriate common information governance arrangements - across the AHSN as
a source of information and expertise to enable change to happen
• Shared access to anonymised patient information to rapidly identify eligible
patients for clinical trials and understand health trends better
• Being more receptive to private sector ideas and approaches; and being more
able to work in partnership with industry so that innovation can become viable
commercial opportunities. Such wealth creation can also stimulate and support
local economic growth.
• Pro-active promotion of the benefits of patient participation in clinical trials with
healthcare staff playing their part in providing information
We want to make a significant positive impact by strategically addressing health
needs and priorities in the South West with active engagement of the Clinical
Commissioning Groups.
Emerging priorities being considered include:
• Improving care for frail elderly people
• Improving care for people with dementia
• Greater use of Tele-health and digital technology
• Improving long term care management of people with diabetes
• Improving stroke care pathways
• Improving co-ordination and effectiveness of care for people with
mental health conditions
To be effective we recognise the importance of maintaining established links with
the Peninsula Collaboration for Research in Applied Health Care (PenCLAHRC)
and the Peninsula Comprehensive Local Health Network (PenCLRN). We are also
fostering closer working relations with new bodies including the Local Education
and Training Board (LETB) and Health and Wellbeing Boards.
The health and social care sector across the South West is evolving and the AHSN
will respond and adapt to these changes.
Website: www.swpahsn.co.uk
Email enquiries to us at: info@swpahsn.co.uk