How the Hegenberger Retractor supports careful, dignified postnatal repairs
Blog article
For perineal specialist midwife Malene Hegenberger, a challenge encountered repeatedly in practice became the starting point for a new innovation in postpartum care. After finding it difficult to achieve a clear view and maintain access when examining and repairing perineal tears following childbirth, Malene developed the Hegenberger Retractor, a device designed to gently hold tissue…
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From community activism to system accountability: highlights from the Black Maternal Health Conference
Blog article
During Black Maternal Health Week, our Head of Communications, Vanesther Hamer, shares her reflections on attending the Black Maternal Health Conference UK 2026 in London last month. In March I had the privilege of joining colleagues to represent Black Maternity Matters at the Black Maternal Health Conference UK 2026 in London, and I’ve found myself…
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Navigating AI regulation in UK healthcare: practical guidance for innovators
Blog article
Artificial intelligence continues to reshape what’s possible in healthcare, but ensuring innovations are safe, trusted and adoption-ready remains a critical challenge. In this final blog of our series following Health Innovation West of England’s Designing AI Healthcare Solutions webinar, we hear from regulatory expert Sam Bacon of SGB QA/RA Consulting Ltd. Drawing on his experience…
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Driving AI innovation in the NHS: lessons from Skin Analytics’ journey
Blog article
As the demand for timely and accurate cancer care continues to grow, artificial intelligence (AI) is helping redesign clinical pathways that improve patient outcomes while easing pressure on health systems. In this second instalment of our blog series following the Designing AI Healthcare Solutions: Insights, Expectations and Regulations webinar, we explore how Skin Analytics, a leading AI…
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In conversation: Natasha Swinscoe
Blog article
In this interview, Natasha reflects on her 31-year career in the NHS, in which – across those three decades – the one absolute constant has been change. Natasha discusses her journey from a general management trainee to her leadership role in the Health Innovation Network and considers the crucial link between innovation and improvement, as…
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Why wound care deserves more attention and how can we improve patient outcomes
Blog article
In this new blog post Sarah White, Senior Project Manager, looks ahead to what we will be doing to support wound care and how our work aligns to the National Wound Care Strategy Programme. Wound care might not make headlines, but it matters more than you might think. Each year, the NHS treats millions of…
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Do you see me? Why experience matters and must be at the heart of service improvement
Blog article
In this new blog post Susie Beresford, Senior Project Manager, celebrates Learning Disability Week (16 – 20 June 2025) and reflects on the theme “Do you see me?” in connection to the South West Learning Disability Collaborative. As Learning Disability Week 2025 begins, it feels like the perfect time to reflect on the progress we’ve…
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Why Martha’s Rule matters
Blog article
The Health Innovation Networks are a key partner supporting NHS trusts to implement Martha’s Rule across England. Siobhan Lanigan is a Critical Care Nurse at the Bristol Royal Infirmary on secondment to Health Innovation West of England as Senior Project Manager to support the local rollout of Martha’s Rule. In this blog, Siobhan explores why…
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Why safety culture needs more than policies
Blog article
In this new blog post, Gill Travers reflects on how integrating the MOMENTS framework into the Midwifery programme at the University of the West of England (UWE) is encouraging students to reimagine safety culture. Moments that matter: embedding the MOMENTS Framework into midwifery education at UWE In the heart of the UWE’s Year 2 Pre-Registration…
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Improving outcomes for patients needing non-invasive ventilation care
Blog article
In this blog, Dr Mark Juniper, Respiratory Consultant at the Great Western Hospital, Swindon, and Medical Director at the West of England AHSN, gives a progress report on the collaborative to reduce mortality following acute non-invasive ventilation (NIV). He tells us how sharing the data collected for this project can help deliver the improvements needed……
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