A year of change for Kent Surrey Sussex AHSN

KSS AHSN is delighted to publish its 2021/22 Annual Review, in which we look at the developments and innovations that we have been supporting, in what has been another year of significant change.

Adjusting to living with Covid, understanding the role of innovation in Integrated Care Systems on the delivery of healthcare, and our own personnel and organisational changes, have all had an impact on our work this year.

Des Holden, confirmed as Chief Executive Officer in February 2022 after a period as interim CEO, says, ‘What stands out for me is the way we have contributed to the specific needs of our ICSs, and the population we serve, particularly around Covid vaccination for those who were not in the first tranche and were more difficult to accommodate.’

In addition to Covid-related projects, other highlights include:

• Supporting the formation of a new partnership to deliver equitable care to people with Huntingdon’s Disease.
• Becoming a founding partner of Surrey Heartlands Health Tech Accelerator, supporting 52 innovators within the first year.
• Rolling out objective testing for ADHD, using the QbTest system, to six NHS Trusts, on 13 sites, allowing 1,400 tests to be completed for young people.
• Supporting the spread of Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) Testing for asthma, across Kent, Surrey and Sussex, with 54 devices, across 22 sites, benefitting almost 4,000 patients.

We have supported 104 innovators with signposting, guidance and market insights; reached 64 innovators with value proposition, market research and other funding or business support (more than double our target); and offered 45 innovators real-world evaluation, health economics and/or spread activity support (against a target of 10).

As the KSS AHSN comes to the end of its current five year licence, and prepares for the next, Des Holden is excited for the future. ‘We’re going to be looking more at the learning that has come from Covid, particularly around the demand and capacity mismatch that the NHS is facing. There is a range of challenges from safety to access and emergency and elective care, for mental as well as physical health, and we’ll be looking at how we can deliver on that.’

You can read more highlights from the year and plans for the future in Des Holden’s blog.