CW Innovations Engagement Initiative

In this case study, Horizon Fellowship Fellow Jasjit Singh Syan, Senior Clinical Fellow in Cardiology at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Cardiology Registrar In Training at West Middlesex University Hospital, shares how he is working to enhance staff awareness and engagement with innovation within the Trust.

Project Summary

Insufficient communication and limited accessibility for staff to propose and implement innovative ideas — often due to workload concerns and uncertainty about where to seek support — poses a significant challenge to our Trust. To address this, we launched a project to enhance staff awareness and engagement with innovative practices.

Project Background

The initiative was sparked by my realisation that many hospital tasks had not kept pace with technological advancements. I recognised that staff often felt overwhelmed by their workloads and uncertain about where to seek support for their innovative ideas. Traditional large-scale annual events were also largely ineffective, as they primarily attracted those already involved in innovation, leaving many others out of the loop.

To address this, we developed a more accessible and engaging approach. We identified half-hour lunch breaks in specific departments or wards, provided lunch, and used these opportunities to educate staff about the resources available to them. We invited speakers from within their teams to deliver brief presentations on the innovative work they were doing. This approach has proved highly successful, with attendance surpassing that of previous large-scale events. Feedback collected during these sessions indicated a strong interest in innovation, with many participants eagerly sharing their email addresses for further communication.

Additionally, we launched the CW Connections breakfast meetings, starting at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and alternating between our two sites. These meetings provide an open forum for like-minded individuals to share ideas and collaborate freely. By directly engaging with staff in their departments and creating regular opportunities for discussion and collaboration, we have significantly boosted awareness and participation in our innovation efforts.

Impact/Outcomes

This initiative has significantly increased attendance and participation compared to previous large-scale events. Feedback forms show a strong interest in innovation, with many staff members sharing their contact information for continued engagement. This approach has fostered a culture of innovation, making staff feel more supported and encouraged to propose new ideas. While we have yet to quantify specific time or cost savings, we plan to track these metrics moving forward.

Next Steps

We plan to create visual reminders, such as posters with QR codes that link directly to the submission form on the intranet. We will also leverage the email addresses collected from feedback forms to distribute a regular newsletter, keeping staff engaged and informed about innovation highlights and opportunities. Additional promotional strategies include CW Innovation Champion lanyards and badges, custom email signatures, and trust computer backgrounds featuring key messages and QR codes.

For more information on the Horizon Fellowship, visit the CW+ website or check out our Innovation Directory to browse through the full list of Fellows.