The Innovate Healthier Together (IHT) Fellowship is a community dedicated to reimagining health and care across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. It serves as the go-to-network for both new and established health and care innovators with a passion for improving health outcomes across the region.
Sign up to the Innovate Healthier Together FellowshipThe IHT Fellowship provides space for health and care professionals across all disciplines to remove themselves from the operational pressures of their day-to-day roles. By providing time to think creatively, be inspired, and make meaningful connections, our health and care change makers will be empowered to reimagine how we deliver our services to the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire community.
“The Fellowship gives us the opportunity to do things differently. We now have the chance to create a community that will support each other, be brave enough to innovate, to test, fail, and learn from that. In the end, it’s about doing things better. This Fellowship is a group of people that can start us off on that great journey.” – Professor Sir Steve West CBE
Latest news
2024 Innovate Healthier Together Fellowship Wrap Up
This year, the Innovate Healthier Together (IHT) Fellowship brought together professionals across health and care sectors, fostering innovation, learning, and meaningful connections. Read a recap of the highlights from this inspiring journey.
Celebrating our 100th Fellow: An Interview with Wendie Smith
We’re thrilled to announce that Innovate Healthier Together has welcomed our 100th Fellow, marking a milestone that reflects the strength and diversity of our growing community. To celebrate, we interviewed our 100th Fellow, Wendie Smith, to learn more about her journey, her thoughts on the future of health and care, and her insights into the challenges and opportunities facing innovation today.
Please tell us a little bit about yourself, your career, and how you came to be where you are now.
“I qualified when I was 30— So I was a late bloomer! My early career was in secondary care, and eventually, I moved into primary care around 2006. Transitioning between these two areas was challenging. Working in a patient’s home, for instance, is very different in terms of power dynamics, compared to a clinical setting.
“In 2012, I took a leap and opened my own business, which I ran until 2020. As much as I enjoyed the autonomy of it, running a business isn’t easy— I worked as a locum writing legal reports and training in various other roles, gaining a wide range of experience. I did this because I didn’t feel that the NHS was giving me what I needed, and it wasn’t the right fit for my goals at the time, I wanted to drive more change in the system.
“The COVID-19 pandemic led me to step back into clinical practice, which was a move that brought both challenges and renewed purpose. Having space to make changes takes time and blind faith, but I’m passionate about ensuring people live well in those final 10-15 years.”
What do you see as the key challenges within health and care today within our region?
“The NHS was never built to manage today’s complex health issues. Technology has come a long way, but it’s got to be used thoughtfully to be effective.
“We have to be part of the conversation to truly understand the challenges and needs—it’s about health innovation, implementation, and collaboration among clinics, researchers, and innovators.
“We need data and evidence to guide our approaches, ensuring our ideas and solutions are truly beneficial. At the minute, I think this crucial link between research and practical application is lacking.”
What do you think makes this community different from other health and care innovation initiatives?
“Having attended a recent Discussion Group, I learnt so much in just an hour-long conversation. The concept of a ‘pre-mortem’ was something new for me, and it really shifted my thinking. It’s rare to be in a room with people who all bring such different perspectives—it helps you think creatively and gives you a sense of purpose.”
“You don’t usually get all of these people in the same room, but it’s so important. When we come together, solutions just seem to flow more naturally.”
What are you hoping to gain from the Fellowship going forward?
“My hope is to see more spaces where professionals can connect and think outside the box about the issues facing healthcare. The fellowship is really invigorating my hope that, together, we can tackle some of the toughest challenges. Having a ‘hook’ to hang our ideas on—a shared space to come together and innovate—is something I’ve missed. It’s that sense of purpose that really drives me.”
“My journey has been one of diverse experiences and resilience, and I’m feeling optimistic about the future. I’ve been part of projects that went well, and I know there’s potential to keep moving forward. We need these moments of connection and creativity to keep our passion alive.”
As we celebrate our 100th fellow, we extend our thanks to Wendie for her generous support and dedication to our mission. We look forward to fostering more meaningful conversations, innovative ideas, and impactful initiatives that will continue to shape the future of healthcare.
Furthermore, a sincere thank you also goes out to all our fellows. Your contributions to our thriving community are invaluable, and your commitment to dedicating time to inspire change in our profession helps drive progress and make a meaningful impact.
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Feeling Inspired by Wendie’s story and want to join us to further our progress? You can fill out our Fellowship Member registration form. Or, if you’d like to find out more about future activities, please email healthinnowest.ihtfellowship@nhs.net.
To keep up to date with the Innovate Healthier Together Programme, please sign up to our monthly newsletter, which discusses all things innovation in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
Reflections on Our Recent Discussion Group: Handling Failure in Innovation
The Innovate Healthier Together Fellowship continues to grow, and on 22 October, our Fellows participated in a Discussion Group that delved into the complex topic of handling failure in innovation. The session highlighted that while innovation requires a willingness to take risks, understanding and embracing failure is equally essential.
One of the key takeaways was the evolving perspective on failure itself. Historically viewed as something to avoid, failure is now being recognised as a crucial component of the learning and adaptation process. Participants considered an interesting paradox: if success is not achieved or measurable through traditional Return On Investment (ROI), is it truly failure? Particularly in innovation, where long-term outcomes often provide the most profound results, short-term metrics might fail to capture the value of insights gained through initial setbacks.
This reframing of failure extended to discussions about language and responsibility. The group emphasised the importance of adopting a vocabulary that celebrates lessons learned rather than focusing solely on outcomes. As one fellow noted, phrases like “successful failure” convey that attempts yielding insight, even if they miss the initial goal, are a form of progress in themselves. This resonated with examples such as NASA’s Apollo 13 mission—though it did not achieve the intended landing, it was a “successful failure” in terms of advancing emergency protocols that ultimately saved the crew.
Additionally, there was a reflection on resilience—not as an individual responsibility alone but as a characteristic of the systems around us. This approach challenges the notion that personal resilience is paramount, suggesting instead that system resilience allows for more constructive responses to setbacks. Innovation, after all, is a journey of trying and adapting, not necessarily one of reaching a conclusive “end.” One fellow observed that even in fields requiring precision, like cardiology, a “perfect” result (a flat line on an ECG) is, paradoxically, the least desirable outcome.
This discussion offered a thought-provoking perspective on how we approach innovation in healthcare, encouraging fellows to adopt a more open and growth-oriented mindset. As we continue to challenge established ideas and redefine what it means to “succeed,” these conversations are vital in shaping a more adaptable, resilient health system. This session served as a powerful reminder that in the pursuit of meaningful change, failures are not only unavoidable—they’re valuable.
This was one of the many Discussion Groups and activities over the coming months, which are exclusive for Innovate Healthier Together .
If you’re not yet an Innovate Healthier Together Fellow but would like to access future events, you can fill out our Fellowship Member registration form. Or, if you’d like to find out more information about future activities, please email healthinnowest.ihtfellowship@nhs.net.
Innovate Healthier Together Development
In partnership with the West of England Academy, a three-module accredited training course has been developed to support the adoption and spread of innovative mindsets.
Covering design-thinking, quality improvement and facilitation skills, these modules provide participants with the skills and techniques to support others better understand the problems they are trying to solve, and methodologies for innovative solution ideation.
If you’d like to find out more about how you can access these courses, please send an enquiry to healthinnowest.ihtfellowship@nhs.net
Things you might find interesting
National Poster Campaign
Opportunity to Showcase Your Work: Bristol Patient Safety National Poster Competition 2025
Entries are now open for the National Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Poster Competition, taking place as part of the Bristol Patient Safety Conference on 14 May 2025. This important competition offers a platform to share your work with healthcare professionals nationwide and contribute to improving patient safety.
With up to 190 poster places available, you can submit under three categories:
- Full Quality Improvement Project (QIP)
- Quality Improvement (QI) in Progress
- Patient Safety Audit
Successful entries will receive:
- An invitation to present your poster during a live online oral session (2.5-minute presentation with Q&A).
- A national presentation certificate with author and presenter names.
- A chance to win prizes in each poster group.
Don’t miss this opportunity to share your ideas, gain recognition, and inspire innovation. The deadline for submissions is 3 March 2025.
Find out more about the competition.
Regulations and NHS Tendering: Delays in HealthTech Innovation
The Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI) reports that regulatory complexities and NHS tendering rules are slowing HealthTech innovation. Regulatory approvals now average 3–5 years from idea to adoption, driving some companies to consider markets abroad. While NHS requirements often prioritise low-cost tenders, the ABHI is calling for reforms to support value-driven procurement and clearer sustainability guidelines. Despite these challenges, 30% of companies plan to expand UK operations, indicating optimism for the sector’s growth potential.
Find out more about the ABHI’s report and recommendationsJoin Q Health: A Community Driving Quality Improvement in Health and Care!
We’re excited to share an opportunity for our fellows to join Q Health, a dynamic community working to advance the quality and safety of health and care across the UK and Ireland. With free membership, Q Health offers valuable resources, networking, events, and special interest groups for members, led by the Health Foundation and supported by partners throughout the region.
As a Q Health member, you can attend events like the upcoming online workshop, Improvement’s Role in Delivering the 10-Year Plan in England, with Paul Corrigan. This member-only session will explore how improvement approaches can contribute to key NHS shifts—from hospital to community, sickness to prevention, and analogue to digital—as the NHS prepares for its next 10-year plan.
If you’re interested in joining the Q Health community or need extra support with your application, please reach out to us through the Fellowship inbox.
Don’t miss the chance to connect, contribute, and make an impact in health improvement.
Save the date: Bristol Patient Safety Conference 2025
We’re thrilled to announce the upcoming Bristol Patient Safety Conference on 14 May 2025, held virtually for healthcare professionals nationwide to share learning and innovation in patient safety. This independent conference will feature expert speakers, discussions, and a poster competition with exciting new opportunities.
Health Tech Takes Lead in UK’s Venture Capital Investment Surge
The UK’s health and life sciences sector has emerged as a powerhouse in venture capital (VC) investment, raising $2.3 billion in 2024, with nearly $1 billion secured in Q3 alone. This rapid growth ranks health tech alongside enterprise software and just behind fintech as the UK’s most VC-backed industries this year.
Highlights include femtech unicorn Flo’s $200 million funding round—Europe’s largest ever for a femtech company—and major biotech investments in Myricx Bio, ViceBio, and F2G. With UK-based VCs expected to close the year with a record $12.2 billion in capital, the outlook for health tech innovation remains strong into 2025.
Read more about how health tech and life sciences are leading the way Read more about how health tech and life sciences are leading the way
Calling Participants for a Lung Cancer Study – Join LungFit!
Are you, or someone you know, living with lung cancer? We invite you to participate in a new research study, led by one of our fellows, testing *LungFit*—an app designed to support people with lung cancer. Created by Oxford Brookes University researchers alongside lung cancer survivors and healthcare professionals, this innovative app provides:
- Personalised exercise recommendations
- Activity tracking features
- Resources on managing symptoms like breathlessness, fatigue, and depression
- Guidance on diet tailored for lung cancer patients
Your involvement will shape a valuable tool for those facing lung cancer, offering support in day-to-day wellness and symptom management.
If interested in joining this study, please reach out to Suriya Kirkpatrick at 19228607@brookes.ac.uk or 07717 435363.
Resources of the month
Barriers to NHS Innovation and How to Overcome Them
Industry view: what is holding the NHS back from innovation, and what is needed to break these barriers?
Guide – NHS IMPACT Improvement Guide for programmes
Magic, epiphanies and collaboration: How to lead in the NHS, with Sue Holden
Upcoming Innovate Healthier Together Fellowship events
The Innovate Healthier Together Fellowship regularly hosts exclusive events, delivering a mix of online and in-person engagement opportunities for the community. We aim to create forums for collaboration and knowledge exchange, supporting our fellows in continuous learning, exchange of the latest trends, and discussion regarding advancements in health and care.
These events serve as vital touchpoints for people from diverse backgrounds to connect, share insights, and explore new ideas in the industry.
Our goal is to cultivate an environment where interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly around innovation, is not just encouraged but actively facilitated and supported.
These events are exclusively for Fellowship members.
Sign up to the Innovate Healthier Together FellowshipThe dates and locations for some of our upcoming events are still to be confirmed. Be sure to check our socials and this webpage regularly for the latest updates.
Once you are a Fellow, you will have access to our email group and our private LinkedIn group, where you will also get all the latest updates about the Fellowship and our multiple resources and tools.
Events calendar
Sustainable Innovation in Health and Care - Discussion Group
When: 21 January 2025 at 12noon to 1pm
Where: Online via Microsoft Teams
Who: Host to be confirmed
More information on this event will be published shortly.
Value-based Procurement - Masterclass
When: 11 February 2025 at 12noon to 1pm
Where: Online via Microsoft Teams
Hosted by: NHS Supply Chain
More information on this event will be published shortly.
Networking Event
When: March 2025 – date to be confirmed
Where: In-person – exact location to be confirmed
Hosted by: To be confirmed
An opportunity to network and connect with like-minded professionals and experts. Expert guest speaker to be announced.
Evaluating our Services: Creating a Roadmap to Measure Innovation Change – Taster Session
When: March 2025 – date to be confirmed
Where: To be confirmed
Hosted by: West of England Academy
A taster session hosted by the West of England Academy to cover how to understand and gather evidence to effectively measure innovation change.
How to RSVP to these events
If you are a Fellow, you should receive a Microsoft Office calendar invite via email with instructions on how to confirm your attendance at these events.
If you are not yet a Fellow but would like to join this event, please join the Fellowship first where you will have access to these and future events.
Join the Innovate Healthier Together FellowshipMeet the Innovate Healthier Together Fellowship Team
Ellie Wetz, Associate Director
I’ve had the pleasure of working at Health Innovation West of England for about 10 years now. I was also fortunate to be recently seconded to NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB for 18 months, so feel I know this system and all its partner organisations well.
I’m thrilled that the Fellowship has the potential to accelerate innovation into practice in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. I think the foundations are there – but with a bit of dedicated support to strengthen the culture of innovation through the practical application of design-thinking, networking, thought leadership and collaboration across sectoral and organisational boundaries, I think we could collectively and genuinely, achieve better outcomes for our citizens and patients.
Get in touch
If you see something that interests you, we would love to hear about it. Big or small, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by emailing healthinnowest.ihtfellowship@nhs.net.
Ellie Wetz
Associate Director of the Innovate Healthier Together Programme
Ellie.Wetz@nhs.net
Fellowship sign up
Interested in becoming a Fellow yourself? By joining, you’ll gain access to these exclusive events that are available only to members of the Fellowship. Don’t miss out – sign up to the Fellowship now.
Sign up to the Innovate Healthier Together Fellowship