Blog

We have heard from the government how economic growth, increased use of digital technologies and a stronger focus on preventative care can help create a healthier and more prosperous society. While these ambitions set a strong foundation, realising them requires action at a local level, where innovation and collaboration can thrive.

The recent Darzi report, an independent investigation of the NHS in England that assessed the quality of care, patient access, and overall performance of the health system, highlighted the need for change if our NHS is to provide better care for patients, support its workforce and drive economic growth. The health and life sciences sector plays a critical role in this transformation, and our region is well placed to lead the way. Yorkshire is home to some of the most advanced companies in this sector. These innovators are improving patient care outcomes, delivering long-term cost savings and also creating new jobs. A great example of this is Paxman, a Huddersfield-based company that is now a global leader in scalp cooling and chemotherapy, exporting its products to overseas markets like the USA, renowned to be a challenging market to enter. West Yorkshire alone is home to more than 600 HealthTech businesses and over 22% of the UK’s digital health jobs are based in the region. The sector contributes £58 billion a year to the UK economy.

This month, I chaired the Yorkshire Post’s Health and Life Sciences business breakfast, where I was joined by two panels of experts to explore how we can create the right conditions for our region to become a beacon of excellence in health innovation. Discussions revealed that while our region boasts strong partnerships and networks, sometimes navigating this ecosystem can be a complex challenge for innovators. There is a clear need to demystify how the healthcare system operates and ensure that solutions align with NHS priorities, focus on improving patient outcomes, and are scalable and sustainable. Critical for success is engaging with our diverse communities at an early stage in the development of an innovation. Patient experience is fundamental to designing services that deliver effective care. Insights gathered from patients with relevant lived experience of using an innovation is invaluable. The panel discussions also highlighted that our region’s greatest opportunity lies in having a shared vision to address health and economic disparities, providing a clear direction for meaningful action. Through our work, we know that locally led interventions deliver better outcomes, but this has to be done collectively. By working together, local leaders across sectors can find more creative and tailored solutions to the specific challenges faced by their diverse communities.

Health innovation is deeply embedded in our region, with NHS organisations striving to ensure patients benefit from fresh approaches and SMEs developing cutting-edge products and technologies that improve lives and boost the economy. Health is a critical driver of an inclusive and thriving economy, as highlighted in our recent white paper, ‘Empowering Local Places for Health and Prosperity: New Perspectives from Yorkshire and the Humber’. Developed with our YHealth for Growth partners—NHS Confederation and Yorkshire Universities—the paper underscores the undeniable connection between health and economic growth and the importance of taking a place-based approach to tackling health inequalities. Traditionally, efforts have focused on improving personal health to get people back to work. However, we must also recognise the significant role that employers have in creating ‘quality work’ and fostering good health in their workforce to support sustainable employment.

At Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, we are committed to supporting the adoption of innovations that address the health needs of our diverse communities while enhancing efficiency and productivity in the NHS. We bring together the health and care system, innovators, researchers, local government, patients and the public to create strong partnerships that ensure the impact and benefits of innovation are realised for patients, the NHS and social care organisations. We also support innovators to expand their businesses not only in our region, but also globally to benefit patients worldwide. We enable SMEs to thrive in healthcare markets at home and abroad through programmes like our digital health accelerator Propel@YH, which provides structured support including subject-specific masterclasses and networking opportunities.

Our strength lies in the constructive partnerships we have built over the years, bringing diverse stakeholders together to share best practice, identify effective solutions and overcome barriers to innovation adoption. We use our voice, networks and platforms to influence policy, leadership and decision-making in support of good health and work.

If you have an idea and need support, get in touch and visit our website to discover how we can work together.