were shortlisted and all three are being awarded funding to commence April 2023 , with grant agreements in development .
The hub has also tested the role of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy ( CBT ) to help manage respiratory conditions , by training healthcare professionals to deliver CBT to patients . The evaluation demonstrated that it has resulted in a reduction in referrals to Improving Access to Psychological Therapies ( IAPT ). 30 healthcare professionals across South Yorkshire received CBT training to use as a novel element of care for patients living with respiratory conditions . In the evaluation of the project , trainees were very positive about the training and the relevance to their job roles , given the number of patients experiencing anxiety . They reported feeling better skilled and more confident in supporting these patients .
Those interviewed as part of the evaluation also reported a measurable positive impact on patients ’ anxiety , as evidenced in before and after surveys .
They also suggested that the programme led to a reduction in referrals for patients to IAPT and counselling services . They felt better able to support their own patients rather than referring them on straight away . Where they did still refer , they were able to provide more information to the service they were referring to , based on insight gained through using CBT .
The success of the hub model in South Yorkshire has led to the approach being replicated in West Yorkshire , and collaboration between the hubs helps us promote sharing across the systems .
West Yorkshire Innovation Hub
The West Yorkshire Innovation Hub was set up in 2022 to provide a home for system innovation in West Yorkshire . The hub is ideally placed within West Yorkshire Health Care Partnership ’ s ( WYHCP ) governance structure and uses Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber to act as a neutral partner to spread and adopt good practice across the region . By being embedded within the ICS , the hub team has the ability to evolve and adapt to system needs , to help identify the system ’ s innovation requirements , act as a front door for innovators and support the development of networks which promote the spread and adoption of best practice .
The hub enables innovative ways of working to tackle the biggest challenges facing the local system . The connections and networks made by the hub , position it as the first port of call for anyone seeking support or exploring opportunities for innovation and improvement against WYHCP priorities across the health and care system . The hub ’ s successes in its first year , include work with the West Yorkshire Cancer Alliance has been highlighted as an area of best practice for collaboration between an ICS , Cancer Alliance and local health innovation network provider , and is being showcased to NHS England with a view to the potential spread and adoption of this approach .
The extensive engagement approach with primary care , patients and public by the Primary Care Innovation Collaborative to understand the unmet needs within primary care has been utilised by other Digital Primary Care Innovation Hubs as best practice .
60 Transforming Lives Through Innovation