Executive Chair of InnoScot Health, Graham Watson

Towards the close of the year, it is always natural to reflect on what’s come before while looking ahead with optimism to what might be in store — and the ever-shifting Scottish healthcare landscape is no different.

There remains so much transformative potential, and I believe that 2025 will see further strong progress made towards where we need to be with forward-thinking ideas to the fore.

The progressive thirst for innovation from the NHS Scotland workforce is in abundance and InnoScot Health is proud to be championing that drive with its uniquely dynamic support at the centre of an exciting, constantly evolving environment.

Yes, challenges linger, but the recent budget announcement has provided a platform for the health and social care system to focus on reform and innovation. We must work as a whole system and across organisational boundaries to improve outcomes and deliver the best possible care within our available resources.

I also believe that our 2023 survey findings continue to ring true with 90% of staff across the country agreeing that innovation must be at the heart of improving NHS Scotland services.

Indeed, earlier this year, Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO) referenced those very findings while insisting that healthcare innovation is “central to the pursuit of wellbeing, equity, and Scotland’s wider socioeconomic success”.

Professor Sir Gregor Smith’s Annual Report 2023-24 particularly highlighted our data which found that nearly two thirds (64%) of health and social care staff consider themselves innovators — and, importantly, feel they have ideas to safeguard and improve our NHS.

It underlines the InnoScot Health belief that innovation remains the key to achieving more with less and there has never been a more important time for NHS Scotland staff to reach out and collaborate on their mould-breaking ideas, whether simple or complex.

Fundamentally, I believe in that old truism — that where there is a will, there is a way. If the workforce is ready and willing to blaze trails and make the health service better then it can be done.

A shift is undoubtedly happening with increasing focus being placed on areas that really matter in a modern, inclusive society — greener healthcare practices as NHS Scotland looks to reach its 2040 net zero target; greater diversity as more voices are asked to contribute to the innovation conversation; and better equality of care for those who have previously felt marginalised, misunderstood, or geographically disenfranchised.

These are meaningful steps for a continuously evolving healthcare sector, and InnoScot Health has reflected those efforts by inspiring and encouraging innovations that could make a difference in those key areas.

Aside from continuing to carefully evaluate all submissions from every section of the workforce, we have actively sought out new ideas which draw on Scotland’s vast wellspring of staff expertise with our focused innovation pushes in sustainability, ophthalmology, frailty, and pregnancy and perinatal.

Joining them very recently has been our fresh drive to draw out innovation from nurses, midwives, and allied health professionals (AHPs) — a group which collectively makes up a third of NHS Scotland, thus representing a huge amount of collective knowledge and experience.

Highlighting the innovative potential of workforce ideas has been our direct support for an inspiring idea from NHS Lothian. While working in theatre at St John’s Hospital in Livingston, Elective Section Midwife Stacey Boyle began to wonder if there was a better solution for birthing partners to provide beneficial skin-to-skin contact to newborns after Caesarean section.

She alighted on the idea of a special set of scrubs for partners that have a kangaroo-style pouch to allow better skin-to-skin to take place as soon as the baby is born with the help of cost-effective, upcycled NHS fleeces as a covering material with a secure Velcro opening altered onto new scrubs.

InnoScot Health helped protect and register the design of Cozy Cuddle Scrubs (by Stacey)™ — a vital part of its next steps — while providing constant support and communication between the various parties involved.

This means that the product is now well-placed to become more widely available through manufacturing partners.

It is hoped the innovation will reach hospitals across the UK, possibly even globally, in turn improving neonatal care and outcomes for families.

Our educational, bitesize webinar series has also continued to benefit the workforce across 2024, providing a platform for engaging guests to speak on a range of innovation-related topics while allowing our team to also share its own insights and signpost attendees to our supportive resources.

There have been notable successes for our spinouts, including CardioPrecision technology for less invasive heart surgery now being used in 75% of Scotland’s cardiac centres, while biopharma company Aurum Biosciences raised almost £730,000 in a first tranche of new equity funding aimed at developing its therapeutic and diagnostic technology.

We have seen homegrown talent flourish through our involvement in the NHS Clinical Entrepreneurs Programme which encourages and supports staff to balance work commitments with developing and scaling fresh ideas for patient benefit. We are proud to be part of Scotland’s programme coordination group and will continue to support new initiatives that empower ambitious NHS innovators.

There has been development in our own funding model too which is going through a process of transition, meaning changes to the way NHS Boards and Regional Innovation Hubs access our advice, expertise, and support.

Work is already underway to enable a smooth transition focused on continuity of equitable support with InnoScot Health remaining fully committed to working with all partners to support a truly progressive, innovative, and entrepreneurial NHS Scotland.

Enhancing the ways in which we work with innovators will continue to be a major driver for our organisation.

Just as we did when inaugurated back in 2002, next year InnoScot Health will be dedicated to leveraging its 23 years of experience to inspire, encourage and support even more health and social care staff to realise their innovation potential and work collectively to drive NHS transformation.

InnoScot Health wishes you an inspired 2025.