A note from our Chair

In March 2020, the health and care system embarked on the most challenging year in its history.

Within a matter of days, all 15 Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs) realigned resources and refocused our existing work to support the national and regional response to coronavirus (COVID-19). We adapted and channelled our efforts to support the system where the need was the greatest, and used our model of operating as a locally connected, co-ordinated national network to add value at pace and scale during this time.

Our 2020/21 Impact Report demonstrates that as a Network we drive forward results in the most relevant areas to make a real difference for patients and service users, as well as healthcare professionals, innovators and NHS organisations. We use our unique position working across all sectors relevant to health and care and our embedded relationships as a catalyst for the greatest impacts, and this year is a demonstration of how effective that can be.

Even in the face of adversity, the system has made some incredible steps forward to adopt innovation and work even more closely with industry.

Professor Gary Ford
Chair of the AHSN Network and Chief Executive of Oxford AHSN

AHSN Network Impact Report cover

Read the Impact Report PDF. You can see more impact stories on the pages below.

2020/21 impacts

  • Meet the Innovator: ChatHealth

    Clinical Lead of ChatHealth, Laura Burrowes, joined the Digital Health Transformation Service at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust’s (LPT)  in April 2022, following a career as a school nurse, where she was the lead practitioner for the confidential text messaging service for the school nursing service in Manchester. Nationally, the award-winning text messaging service has [...]

  • Preparing to implement the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework

    Dr Cheryl Crocker, AHSN Network Patient Safety Director, discusses how Patient Safety Collaboratives (hosted by the AHSN Network) are supporting ICSs and ICBs in preparations to implement the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework.   NHS England published the new Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) in August 2022 outlining how NHS organisations should respond to [...]

  • Supporting people to manage long-term pain without opioids

    A blog from Dr Cheryl Crocker, AHSN Network Patient Safety Director, describing how Patient Safety Collaboratives (hosted by the AHSN Network) are supporting people to manage their long-term pain and reduce the harmful effects of opioid medication.   Opioids are highly effective medications and, when used judiciously for a time-limited period, can greatly benefit many [...]