A free webinar will be offering a platform to a unique NHS health board next week for discussion of its strategy in empowering the workforce to innovate for the benefit of both patients and staff

On Wednesday 25 February, InnoScot Health — a key partner in realising healthcare innovation ambitions for Scotland — will be inviting Public Health Scotland (PHS) to discuss its comprehensive approach to encouraging public health innovation while underlining the importance of delivery.

That will be framed in the context of a new PHS Strategy and broader Scottish Government Population Health Framework which aims to improve Scotland’s health and reduce health inequalities over the next decade, creating a country where everyone thrives.

The lunch and learn session — entitled ‘Addressing complex and evolving challenges in public health — a new framework for innovation’ — takes place from 12-12.45pm and will be presented by InnoScot Health’s Head of Innovation, Robert Rea.

He will outline a national project called the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) which involved InnoScot Health before introducing Nicola McCallum, Organisational Lead — Innovation, of PHS, all followed by a Q&A segment.

As Scotland’s national public health body, PHS leads and supports work across Scotland to prevent disease, prolong healthy life, and promote health and wellbeing.

Following the recent publication of its ‘Framework for public health innovation’, the national agency continues to see the fostering of a progressive thinking culture as a vital driver for achieving those wider aims.

The framework has been designed “to help address the complex and evolving challenges in public health across Scotland”.

During the webinar, Nicola will touch on how PHS has arrived at its current point and where the organisation’s future ambitions lie in alignment with its innovation framework.

• Register to attend

Robert said: “We fully support the PHS mission of driving public health innovation which delivers on the vision of a Scotland where all can thrive.

“InnoScot Health shares the PHS belief in the need for innovative solutions that improve health outcomes and equity, so it will be a pleasure to have the opportunity of hearing more on that from a fresh perspective.

“Nicola is a highly knowledgeable speaker who will discuss key aspects of the innovation framework such as how it will be taken forward, what that means in terms of opportunities for Scottish healthcare’s forward-thinkers, and the PHS approach to measuring impact from innovation.

“We think it will be a very interesting and illuminating session and we hope you can join us on Wednesday 25 to learn more.”

InnoScot Health launched a new innovation call earlier this month, primarily targeting early-stage healthcare entrepreneurs.

Since 2002, the organisation has supported NHS Scotland Boards by protecting, managing, and commercialising the intellectual property in innovative ideas.

It has also continued to provide a range of supplementary services including idea evaluation, medical device regulatory support, funding and investment, project development, and commercialisation.

That unique expertise has helped to translate many innovative ideas into tangible health benefits, generate income for the NHS, and support broader efforts to improve healthcare services.

As innovation and the broader healthcare landscape continues to change, so do the underpinning structures, systems, and services – and InnoScot Health is entering a new phase which aligns with that shift.

The organisation will be going through a managed transition period to ensure continuity of access to advice, expertise, and support in the short-term before becoming entirely self-sustaining as of 1 April 2027.