The NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement yesterday (14 May 2009) launched a national survey offering all NHS staff in the UK an opportunity to influence “the national innovation agenda”.
The first National Innovation and Improvement Survey, which has been created in partnership with strategic health authorities (SHAs), is designed to provide insight into the current challenges faced by frontline NHS staff and better understand what they need to improve patient care.
It will give staff the opportunity to feedback on what improvement approaches they are already using, and suggest new ideas about how innovation in the NHS should be encouraged.
The results will be used by the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement and SHAs to prioritise innovation programmes for development over the course of 2010.
Commenting on the survey, Lynne Maher, head of innovation practice at the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement, said: “The frontline NHS staff we work with everyday fully understand the value of finding new solutions to old problems.
“But they’re often so busy dealing with day-to-day issues that they struggle to contribute to national debates on where innovation efforts should be focused or share their ideas.”
She added: “If there was ever a time for every single member of the NHS to engage in innovation, it’s now.”
Related story: Lord Darzi calls on frontline staff to innovate and share ideas
