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The Health Innovation Platform

Identify. Champion. Change.

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Blue leaf

Multi-disciplinary teaching

LMIC PartnerQueen Elizabeth Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi

Lead UK Partner Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, Scotland

Lead Applicant Dr Catriona Connolly

Multi-disciplinary teaching of all staff involved in maternal emergencies-including guards and drivers-reduced maternal mortality by up to 70% – the Malawian DoH wants it upscaled throughout Malawi.

HPS Innovation
Training Programmes

Bootcamp Surgical Training

LMIC PartnerUniversity Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia

Lead UK Partner Pinderfields Hospital

Lead Applicant Chandra Shekhar Biyani

One to one boot camp style surgical training. The model I learned during my visit to Zambia and Kenya have been used in the following settings.1. Training Foundation Year 2 (FY2) Doctors – I used a similar model to set-up a hands-on training course for FY2s. I felt that exposure to surgical procedures is limited before embarking on a core surgical training post. I designed a 2-day course for 24 FY2s with 4 modules (urology, orthopaedics, general and vascular surgery) of 4 hours duration. This was well received by the deanery and for nearly 6 years we have delivered the course.2. Specialist Training in Urology for European Residents – The success of the Boot Camp in the UK setting attracted educators from Europe to visit and observe our course.

2011 - 2015

HPS Innovation
Training Programmes

Stre@mline

LMIC PartnerChurch of Uganda Kisiizi Hospital

Lead UK Partner Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health

Lead Applicant Dr Ian Spillman

Stre@mline – innovative IT integrating Patient Care, Safety & efficient Health Service Delivery particularly in resource-limited situations contributing significantly to Universal Health Coverage.

2012 - 2014

HPS Innovation
Practical Interventions

Strengthening the system of community mental health care in Zomba District, Malawi, through developing the enhanced role of Health Surveillance Assistants

LMIC PartnerZomba Mental Health Services, Malawi

Lead UK Partner Department of Health Sciences, University of York

Strengthening community mental health care through Health Surveillance Assistants

2020 - 2020

HPS Innovation
Community Outreach

Strengthening health workforce capacity and professional development in maternal and new-born emergency care in Bong County, Liberia.

LMIC PartnerBong County Health and Social Care, Phebe Hospital

Lead UK Partner Aneurin Bevan Health Board, Royal Gwent Hospital

An Apple IPAD platform of around 250 videos, textbooks, manuals and presentations on maternal, neonatal and child healthcare has been developed and in collaboration with MOHSW and WHO is going to be used for continuing medical education throughout Liberia.

2020 - 2015

HPS Innovation
Practical Interventions

Working in partnership to achieve MDG4 in East Africa: improving the quality and safety of hospital care for sick infants and children through ETAT+

LMIC PartnerKenya Paediatric Association

Lead UK Partner Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

The RCPCH East Africa ETAT+ project results were shared at the August 2014 International Congress of Tropical Pediatrics at KICC, Nairobi in a one day pre-congress workshop dubbed- HEALTH SYSTEMS RESEARCH/RCPCH PARTNERSHIP: ETAT+ and innovations on understanding and improving Health.

2020 - 2015

HPS Innovation
Practical Interventions
Training Programmes

Creating a National Epilepsy Hub: Reaching Rural Communities in Sierra Leone

LMIC PartnerLumley Government Hospital, Sierra Leone

Lead UK Partner Basildon & Thurrock University Hospital

Radio jingles were developed and broadcasted by 8 stations across Sierra Leone to raise awareness about epilepsy. An informational video broadcast on television and on video advertising boards in busy areas.

2012 - 2015

HPS Innovation
Practical Interventions

Reducing health harm caused by alcohol in Upper West Region, Ghana

LMIC PartnerGhana Health Service, Upper West Region

Lead UK Partner NHS Highland

Using a range of tools to raise public awareness of health risks associated with alcoholism including radio broadcasts and call-ins, talks at churches. Breaking down stigma surrounding alcoholism by using informal messaging and neutral places to break ground. Could be used as a model for the NHS to change perceptions around seeking medical help for addiction.

2013 - 2014

HPS Innovation
Community Outreach

Lugina Africa Midwives Research Network (LAMRN)

LMIC PartnerMidwifery or Nursing Schools in each country

Lead UK Partner University of Manchester

THE LAMRN project aimed to develop a sustainable research network for midwifery to increase skills and quality service provision. Midwives have commented that LAMRN has made them see practice differently by giving them the confidence to question the status quo. 8 midwives out of the 120 trained who have contributed meaningfully to these guidelines and/or evidence of clinical innovation. Over 2 years, 39 research projects have been developed in a range of topics. This has the potential to be brought to the UK as an innovation. Small, local or thematic groups working together on research projects and developing ideas to improve care quality.

2013 - 2015

HPS Innovation
Practical Interventions

Innovating Midwives into Research

LMIC PartnerUgandan Midwives Association

Lead UK Partner Imperial College/NHS Trust

Lead Applicant Alison Perry

“Innovating Midwives into Research” seeks to harness the power of research through partnership with clinicians to identify research priorities, design and co-production to improve women’s health. In the UK, it is known that patients have better outcomes in institutions that are research active and I would like to help lead a cultural change among clinicians in this regard to make research available to all. The potential benefits of this innovation project are vast and would include key engagement and empowerment of midwives (and potentially other healthcare workers), the institution, the overall health system including women, their families, and therefore their communities and wider society.

HPS Innovation
Community Outreach

Artificial Intelligence smartphone app

Lead UK Partner Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Lead Applicant Dileep Wijeratne

An Artificial Intelligence smartphone app to improve the accuracy of cervical screening in LMICs.

HPS Innovation
Practical Interventions

Strengthening family medicine in resource-limited environments

LMIC PartnerUnited Nations Relief & Works Agency (UNRWA)

Lead UK Partner Plymouth University School of Medicine & Dentistry & Rila Institute of Health Sciences

Lead Applicant Ram Dhillon

Developed a scalable model for strengthening family medicine in resource-limited environments.

HPS Innovation
Practical Interventions

Wessex-Ghana Stroke Partnership

LMIC PartnerKorle Bu Teaching Hospital

Lead UK Partner LMIC Partner

Multi-disciplinary approach to stroke management; conferences, presentations and talks.

2014 - 2015

HPS Innovation
Leadership & soft skills

Improving Global Health through Leadership Development – Volunteering and Partnerships

2024 - 2024

HPS Innovation

Peer Support Training

LMIC PartnerMirembe Hospital

Lead UK Partner CNWL

Lead Applicant Chris Bumstead

Training current mental health inpatients as Peer Support Workers and engaging them as key participants in Income Generation and Skills Development projects

2014 - 2017

HPS Innovation
Training Programmes

MedNav

LMIC PartnerQuito Hospital, Masaka

Lead UK Partner Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

Lead Applicant Shane Duffy

As maps have been replaced by satnavs, we have developed a decision support technology called MedNav which replaces guidelines with real time auditory and visual clues to guide emergency workers.

HPS Innovation
Practical Interventions

Contraceptive Implant Documentaries

LMIC PartnerBwindi Community Hospital

Lead UK Partner Royal College of GPs

Lead Applicant Dr Merlin Willcox

We have developed health education dramas and documentaries in 2 Ugandan languages to address misconceptions about the contraceptive implant, and so to increase uptake.

HPS Innovation
Practical Interventions

USHAPE

LMIC PartnerKisiizi hospital/ Bwindi Hospital

Lead UK Partner RCGP

Lead Applicant Emily Clark

Contraception, community and grey crowned cranes; harmonising family planning and environmental efforts to improve lives in South West Uganda.

HPS Innovation
Community Outreach

To strengthen systems and processes for infection prevention and control

LMIC PartnerChurch of Uganda Kisiizi Hospital

Lead UK Partner Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

This project contained multiple examples of innovation. A new bed-frame system was designed and prototypes assembled and trialed on the ward. Mosquito nets provided in the ward suspended from the ceiling were difficult to use. Development and trial of an IT system “Stre@mline” for patient safety, diagnostics and medication labels. Also being supported by a grant from the Uganda National Council for Science & Technology. Introduction of Mobile Hand Wash stations to improve hand washing and infection control practices.

2015 - 2017

HPS Innovation
Practical Interventions

Strengthening primary health care through family physicians in South Africa

LMIC PartnerStellenbosch University

Lead UK Partner Royal College of General Practitioners

2015 - 2017

HPS Innovation

Improving the emergency care in Zanzibar

LMIC PartnerMinistry of Health Zanzibar

Lead UK Partner LMIC Partner

2015 - 2017

HPS Innovation

Educator Development as a key to strengthening health partnerships and improving health outcomes

LMIC Partner12 Vision 2020 Links

Lead UK Partner London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

2015 - 2017

HPS Innovation

Improved maternity care through improved midwifery education

LMIC PartnerUganda Private Midwives Association (UPMA)

Lead UK Partner The Royal College of Midwives

2015 - 2017

HPS Innovation

Mental health assessment and treatment interventions following suicide attempts in Southern India

LMIC PartnerCSI Holdsworth Memorial Hospital

Lead UK Partner Edgehill University

2024 - 2016

HPS Innovation

Clinical Audit and Feedback

LMIC PartnerUganda Nurses and Midwives Union

Lead UK Partner University of Manchester- Department of Centre for Global Women’s Health, Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work

Lead Applicant Ms Enid Mwebaza

Clinical audit is a quality improvement process that seeks to improve patient care and outcomes through systematic review of care against explicit criteria and the implementation of change.

HPS Innovation
Leadership & soft skills

Sustainable Professional Training and Mentorship for Improved Management of Medical Equipment in the Ugandan Blood Transfusion Service

LMIC PartnerUganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS)

Lead UK Partner University of Salford

Training program for the Ugandan Blood Transfusion Service. Took a range of formats including online videos, equipment management and monitoring programs.

2017 - 2018

HPS Innovation
Training Programmes

Scale-up of Diabetic Retinopathy screening and treatment services programme across Zambia

LMIC PartnerUniversity Teaching Hospital Lusaka

Lead UK Partner Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

Training program for medical students in the Remido mobile camera. The camera is user-friendly and can be operated from an iPhone. As most students have smart phones they found it easy to learn and manage and were able to take high-quality retinal images.

2017 - 2018

HPS Innovation
Training Programmes

Page Pill

Lead UK Partner NHS

Lead Applicant Dr Leke Asong

Unlike traditional pill organizers which organize medication according to times taken, Page Pill organizes medication according to medication type. This has two huge benefits both to the end user, or the dispensing pharmacy where relevant: Monthly medication are organized in minutes, while dose and medication changes are made in seconds.

HPS Innovation
Practical Interventions

Family Medicine Clinic Operational Guidance

LMIC PartnerMoi University

Lead UK Partner HHS Orkney

Lead Applicant David Mazza

A two year collaboration between representatives from Moi Family Medicine Faculty and Registrars in Kenya and PCI on a primary care programme has led to the development of an innovative project to support Family Medicine doctors to fulfil their potential as promoters of primary care.

HPS Innovation
Training Programmes

Psychoeducational films

LMIC PartnerButabika National Referral Psychiatric Hospital, Uganda

Lead UK Partner Butabika East London Link, East London NHS Foundation Trust, UK

Lead Applicant Tara Murphy

Psychoeducational films for child and adolescent mental health in LMICs.

HPS Innovation
Practical Interventions

Integrated Nutrition Program

LMIC PartnerYangon General Hospital

Lead UK Partner Health Education England (Thames Valley and Wessex Leadership Academy)

Lead Applicant Samantha Field

A structured, integrated nutrition program that can be adopted without significant resources or specialist input, allowing low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to tackle inpatient malnutrition.

2018 - 2019

HPS Innovation
Training Programmes

Embedding the twinning concept between midwifery associations to improve MDG 4 and 5

Lead UK Partner LMIC Partner

2024 - 2024

HPS Innovation
Leadership & soft skills

Chelsea and Westminster / Kitovu Hospitals Fistula Training Link

LMIC PartnerKitovu Health Care Complex

Lead UK Partner Chelsea and Westminster

2024 - 2024

HPS Innovation
Training Programmes

Global health problems can be solved by anyone, anywhere.

In collaboration with Dr Matthew Harris at the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London, the Health Innovation Platform (HIP) seeks to support health professionals to foster and develop their innovative ideas. Through our model of health partnerships and based on our Principles of Partnership, we will champion outstanding ideas, tools and techniques which we believe have the potential to transform health systems in both low resource settings and in the U.K.

Join the health innovation platform to help make this a reality.

We believe that investing in innovation – finding new ways to solve problems – is crucial to solving the health problems we face globally.

We know that the world is full of innovators with simple and effective solutions to global health challenges with the potential to revolutionise healthcare.

Click her to subscribe to our mailing list and keep up to date with news, projects and events!

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Innovation Toolkit for Health Partnerships

THET and Imperial College London have worked together to create this toolkit in the belief that more can be done to support the flow of innovations and that investing in innovation is crucial to bringing about Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Please click here to view the toolkit. 

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Innovation Round Table Report: How the NHS can learn more from Africa and Asia

Throughout 2019, THET worked in partnership with Imperial College London, with the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Health Education England (HEE), to examine the role Health Partnerships can play in increasing the flow of learning from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to the NHS, looking in particular at what is termed ‘frugal’ or ‘reverse’ innovation.

In November 2019, THET convened an Innovation Round Table chaired by Lord Nigel Crisp which brought together members of the Steering Group formed to oversee this work and experts from across HEE, the NHS, Whitehall, the media and academia.

To find out how the NHS can learn more from Africa and Asia, read the full Innovation Round Table Report here.

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Health Innovation: Bias, Barriers and Breakthroughs

THET recently hosted an event which brought together 120 innovators, global health enthusiasts, practitioners and academics to champion outstanding ideas, tools and techniques that have the potential to transform health systems in both low resource and high income contexts.

Read our full round-up here.

The event concluded with the award of four innovation fellowships to UK health workers looking to foster and develop innovative ideas in Cambodia, South Africa, Uganda and Tanzania. The fellowships will allow each individual to travel to their LMIC partner institution to develop, test and implement their innovation.

For more information please click here.

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Our Innovation Steering Group

Led by our Patron Lord Crisp, a Steering Group including Professor Agnes Binagwaho (University of Global Health Equity), Professor Ged Byrne (Health Education England), Dr Matthew Harris (Imperial College), Dr Sara Urassa (Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College), Dr Shams Syed (World Health Organization), Dr Navina Evans (East London NHS Trust), and Victoria MacDonald (Channel 4) will guide the project and fellows to ensure innovations from across the health partnership community are identified, documented and showcased.