18 front-line staff join the CW Innovation Fellowship 

The CW Innovation Fellowship kicked off on Thursday 30 October, as 18 new participants were welcomed to the CW Innovation Hub for a day of introductions, learning and networking.  

The fourth cohort of the CW Innovation Fellowship, formerly known as the Horizon Fellowship, has welcomed 18 new participants. The initiative builds on the success of the DigitalHealth.London Digital Pioneers programme, supporting staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to design, develop and deliver digital transformation projects. It is delivered in partnership with DigitalHealth.London; CW Innovation; CW+, the charity of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; and the Health Innovation Network South London. 

The onboarding event, which was held at the CW Innovation Hub on Thursday 30 October, marked the first of six learning days throughout this 12 month Fellowship. During the event, participants came together for a day of introductions, learning and networking. The event sets the tone for the upcoming curriculum, which will see Fellows benefiting from in-depth sessions on foundational topics, such as change management; strategic influencing; and user-centred design and system thinking. Participants will be equipped with the knowledge, connections and confidence they need to make lasting improvements across the Trust, contributing to a flourishing environment of staff-led innovation.

The new cohort is made up of professionals from a range of clinical and non-clinical departments, including emergency medicine, paediatrics, gynecology, pharmacy, medical education and outpatients clinical support. The proposed innovation projects have the potential to create lasting change across the Trust, from ChelWest Collaborate, a digital hub for Qi, education and research, to the development of virtual reality (VR) art to help needle phobic patients visiting the blood room. There are also ideas that aim to enhance staff room environments, develop a diverse maternity and neonatal photographic image library, and translate compassion into meaningful practice. 

We’re delighted to welcome our fourth cohort of CW Innovation Fellows. This group represents a fantastic cross section of Trust staff, each bringing innovative ideas and perspectives on how to enhance patient and staff experience. The Fellowship continues to build a strong culture of innovation across our hospitals, empowering colleagues to turn great ideas into real change.

– Tom Carlisle, CW Innovation Business Partner

This diversity of pathways incorporated into projects is indicative of the Fellowship’s wider approach: to embed innovation in every corner of the Trust; empower staff to share knowledge and learnings; and grow a community of innovators, driving change across the Trust. Alumni of the programme have gone on to lead projects with real-world outcomes for clinicians and patients, as well as driving improvements to processes, pathways and the wider approach of the Trust.  

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has a strong legacy of nurturing home-grown innovation, celebrating six years of the CW Innovation this October. The CW Innovation Fellowship marks another step towards cultivating a thriving culture of innovation, and we look forward to celebrating the achievements of this new cohort. 

For more information on the CW Innovation Fellowship, which has been rebranded from the Horizon Fellowship, visit the CW+ website. You can also visit our Innovation Directory to learn more about the Fellows.