We are delighted to invite you to our two Health Innovation Network Digital North Accelerator Programme Innovation Review Panel Events focusing on innovations that support elective recovery and patient flow.

This year’s theme on elective recovery and patient flow aligns with one of the NHS’s key priorities from NHS England’s operational planning guidance: reduce the time people wait for elective care.

The programme includes two virtual Innovation Review Panel events to showcase four SME technologies at each session, to a selected group of key healthcare stakeholders. You can see details of the innovations in the attached Digital North brochure.

The Digital North Accelerator Programme event will bring together innovators, healthcare professionals, and thought leaders to explore the latest advancements in digital solutions for healthcare.

These panels will be of interest to clinicians, planned care leads, commissioners, digital leads and providers, across primary and secondary care.

The Digital North Accelerator programme is a collaborative enterprise established by the four northern Health Innovation Networks: Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, Health Innovation Manchester, Health Innovation North West Coast and Health Innovation North East & North Cumbria who are working together to help spread and scale innovations which can help with current NHS priorities. This activity is funded via the Office of Life sciences.

About this event:

HIN Digital North Accelerator Programme: IRP Online Event – April

(Isla Health, SHREWD, Remcare, Buddy Healthcare)

Friday, 4 April 2025

09:30 – 12pm

Meet our guest speaker, Louise Robson:

Louise has worked in the NHS for over 38 years, 26 of which have been on boards of NHS organisations.

Before becoming Chair of Health Innovation North West Coast Louise was a non-executive director at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital FT and an independent strategic adviser, leading collaborative development programmes.

Louise was Chief Executive Lead for Provider Collaboration for the North of England, working with seven Integrated Care Systems, fifteen Provider Collaboratives and over 70 trusts, as well as linking up with the national team on policy development.

Louise was Chief Executive at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, leading a challenging improvement agenda, and was Acting Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive at the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; rated as one of the most successful trusts internationally and, along with Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital FT, one of few nationally to achieve “outstanding” ratings at CQC inspection over several years.

She was Chair of Newcastle Specials Pharmacy Production Unit, Company Director for several health-related spin-out companies and participated in the launch of the Office for Life Sciences: Industrial Strategy.

She was previously Deputy Chief Executive/Chief Operating Officer for three former primary care trusts, with a single executive team, commissioning healthcare for 750,000 people.

A clinician by background, Louise has worked in executive roles at successful trusts in the North, as well as at the former NHS Executive and Department of Health and Social Care.

Our 2025 cohort:

We are delighted to introduce the eight companies who will be taking part in the 2024/25 Digital North accelerator programme…

DocAbode, Rego, eConsult, Open Medical, Isla Health, SHREWD, Remcare, Buddy Healthcare

More information about our 2025 cohort can be found in the Digital North Brochure.

Key points of the event:

1. Focus on elective recovery and patient flow: The showcase specifically centres around digital innovations in these realms, making it a unique opportunity to share your expertise in this critical area.

2. Audience: A diverse audience of healthcare professionals, industry leaders, and the four selected innovators, offering a prime opportunity to influence and inspire change regarding the challenges and strategy of the NHS.

3. Networking: The event provides an excellent platform for networking and collaboration, fostering connections with like-minded individuals and organisations at the forefront of digital healthcare solutions.