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The second annual Innovate Awards were held yesterday (Thursday 21 September) at a ceremony in London, attended by NHS leaders, innovators, and partners. The Innovate Awards, delivered in partnership between the AHSN Network and NHS Confederation, celebrate innovation in health and care.

Technology thought-leader and Countdown arithmetician, Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE, hosted the ceremony. The keynote speech was delivered by Dr Vin Diwakar, the incoming National Director of Transformation in NHS England.

This year more than 190 applications were submitted from health and care teams across the country, covering 11 award categories, 56 finalists were shortlisted.

Richard Stubbs, Vice Chair of the AHSN Network and Chief Executive of Yorkshire and Humber AHSN, led the coordination of the awards. He said: “As always it is incredibly humbling and inspiring to be able to recognise and celebrate the amazing work of our NHS staff and their partners as they improve the ways in which the health service provides patient care.

“There is so much energy and dedication shown by frontline staff to make sure that we all have the best outcomes and experiences when we need to use the NHS.Our job now is to make sure that all this amazing work is spread to every corner of the country so that everyone can benefit from these innovations. Well done to everyone who applied for the Innovate Awards, and congratulations to the fantastic winning teams.”

Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive at NHS Confederation, added: “Innovation is happening across the healthcare system – it’s essential that we take time out both to recognise and celebrate the achievements of NHS organisations and staff and highlight this to the wider NHS.

“Through shared learning, these innovations can reduce operational pressures and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery for patients. This second year of the Innovate Awards is a fantastic way to acknowledge the continuing hard work and creativity of NHS staff and help share this more widely across the whole service. We are delighted to have received over 190 submissions this year – thank you to everyone who shared their expertise and inventiveness and took the time to enter the awards.”

Winners in the Yorkshire and Humber region:

• Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals, using robotic automatic to improve workforce systems, winner in the ‘Best Workforce Innovation’ category.

• NHS South Yorkshire ICB, Doncaster: Safer Prescribing of Opioids in Doncaster, winner in the ‘Enabling Safer Systems of Care Through Innovation’ category

Find out about the winners in the other categories.