Connecting people and ideas for better health

Connecting people and ideas for better health

“We need to create and join networks that create innovation at scale, if we are to meet the quality and productivity challenge.”

Jim EastonNational director for improvement and efficiency

Context• £15-20 billion funding gap

• QIPP objectives

• Policy change to GP commissioning

• NHS will be doing more with less and with fewer people

• Need to provide continuity and support

Key facts

• Started 2005

• Virtual and face-to-face

• Clinical, professional, managerial, research, academic, social

• Re-launch February 2010

• Part of NHS PCC since 2007

Vital statistics

• 571 networks• 17,857 registered users• Weekly newsletter to c10,000• 83,870 visits• 427,063 page views• Figures for six months 30 April-31 October 2010

What do networks want?

• Set up

• Promote

• Connect to like and unlike

• Share resources (documents, etc)

• Manage membership

• Run better networks

Examples

• PBC Connection – 800 members

• Healthcare Professionals Commissioning Network – 180 members

• National PBC Clinical Leaders Network – 80 members

• Pharmacy Clinical Leadership Network – 122 members

Commercial options

NHS Networks

Site development

£5000 Free

Annual hosting

£1000 Free

Lead times 3 to 6 months 15 minutes

The first report from the NHS Hip Fracture Anaesthesia Network was published in Anaesthesia, the journal of the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. “Without the network this would not have happened. The findings in the study should help to change practice in the UK.”

Richard Griffiths, network lead and consultant anaesthetist, Peterborough & Stamford Hospitals, Peterborough, UK

“If it wasn't for NHS Networks we wouldn't have a network website. We just couldn’t afford it. The new site is ideal as it's quick and easy to upload your own content, particularly helpful after conferences when I used to spend ages zipping and shrinking files to email and even then they'd fail. This saves time and expense for all of us.”

Paul MidgleyNetwork co-ordinatorEast Midlands PBC Network

“NHS Networks provides the means to increase the profile and role of networks as well as firmly embedding them within the fabric of the NHS. This is a truly powerful tool that can assist health economies to coordinate development work across stakeholders, share good practice and learn from others on a national level”.

Paul DevlinEmergency Care Network

QIPP

NHS Networks home page

• latest news

• blogs

• new networks

• network finder

Results of search

• name of the network

• brief description

• link to home page

As a network lead you can create and amend your own

• home page

• news page

• about us

• and much more…

For example: a News section

• your news

• other news stories

• success stories

• latest on website

You can also highlight in Networks weekly news

About us

• what the network is for

• who you are

• what you do

• why and how to get involved

Sections can include sub sections:

• workstreams

• regions

• interests

• categories

Share links and documents:

• highlight resources

• upload documents

• link to other websites

• include descriptions

Include an events section:

• meetings and conferences

• venue, time and agenda

• attendees can download to calendar

• automatic archive of past events

and a message board

• network leads can set up new forums, adjust visibility and modulate

• members can add new conversations and join in current discussions

Through the toolbox, leads can

• create a dynamic home page• add and amend content• send emails• affiliate with other networks• manage membership• control visibility

Our support and services

Free platform with initial support – how to use the site to maximum benefit– how to promote to potential members– encouragement to share success

Value-added services– event management– facilitation and training– network support and co-ordination– sponsorship opportunities

Coming soon

• Email alerts

• The Commissioning Zone*

• In-network video and audio

• Personal networks

• Promotional push

* contact us if you would like to preview the Commissioning Zone

What’s in it for you• Build bigger and different networks

• Remove organisational and hierarchical barriers

• Improve dialogue with partners, colleagues

• Get feedback

• Create ad hoc networks

How you can help us

• Spread the word

• Use the service

• Give us your feedback

www.networks.nhs.ukkatherine.andrews@networks.nhs.uk

07805 027 463