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Velindre Innovation Service

Strategic Priority 3 - the Trust will implement the Velindre Innovation Plan

 

10. Velindre Innovation Service

10.1 Introduction

This report highlights the Trust's significant advancements in innovation over the past year, reflecting its commitment to enhancing patient outcomes, operational efficiency, collaboration, and fostering a culture of innovation.

 

10.2 Innovation portfolio overview

The Trust's innovation portfolio has expanded through the absorption of 2 new programmes in the period and the development of the ISO 56001 programme of work. The portfolio encompassing a range of projects and initiatives that drive forward its strategic objectives. Key areas of focus include advanced radiotherapy, workforce development, and the integration of cutting-edge technologies to improve patient care through innovation pipeline development and innovation adoption.

Graphic showing open projects, projects over the year and innovation programmes

 

10.3 Strategic objectives and implementation themes

The Trust's innovation strategy is built upon four strategic objectives:

  1. Enhance Patient Outcomes and Experience: Implementing innovative treatments and care pathways to improve survival rates and quality of life.
  2. Improve Operational Efficiency: Streamlining processes and reducing costs through innovative solutions.
  3. Strengthen Collaboration: Building partnerships with academic institutions, industry, and other healthcare organizations.
  4. Cultivate an Innovation Culture: Encouraging a culture of continuous learning and support for creative initiatives.

These objectives are supported by implementation themes such as developing a collaborative innovation ecosystem, fostering a culture of innovation, clear communication and recognition, patient and donor-centred excellence, leadership and role modelling, advancing technology integration, data-driven insights, health equity and inclusion, empowerment and autonomy, and training and development.

 

10.4 Innovation programmes

10.4.1 Advancing Radiotherapy Cymru (ARC)

Launched in 2023, the programme formally became part of the innovation portfolio programmes in 2024 with oversight and secretariat absorbed into the Innovation Office remit. ARC is an all-Wales programme aimed at driving innovation in radiotherapy treatment. With £3 million in funding over five years, ARC supports projects that align with its five themes, including supporting innovation within radiotherapy, training the workforce, and expanding patient access to services. As of Q4 2024, five projects have been approved, such as the Velindre Oncology Academy and the PRECISION study.

10.4.2 Advancing Radiotherapy Fund (ARF)

Established in 2015, the ARF programme has provided £5 million to support the implementation of stereotactic radiotherapy treatment and workforce development. As the programme winds down, efforts are underway to collate project information, formulate benefits realisation reports, and organize a celebratory event to showcase the exceptional work funded through the ARF programme.

10.4.3 Bright Ideas

Bright Ideas is an innovative platform enabling staff to contribute ideas aligned with the Trust's strategic objectives. The initiative empowers staff, builds capacity and capability, and supports the Trust's commitment to implement the ISO 56001 Innovation Management System. A pilot launched in December 2024 has led to successful engagement, with plans for Trust-wide rollout early 2026.

10.4.4 Collaborative Centre for Learning Research and Innovation (CCfLRI)

Scheduled to open in April 2027, the CCfLRI will serve as a physical and virtual space promoting engagement, creativity, collaboration, and knowledge exchange. It aims to improve whole-system cancer care through accelerated research, innovation, education, and involvement.

Graphic showing the steps to delivering innovation

 

10.5 Innovation highlight projects

  • RITA: The virtual assistant project has been discontinued following an external evaluation, with lessons learned to inform future AI-enabled projects.
  • Innovation Awareness Training: Training modules aligned with ISO 56001 have been developed for staff induction, with further resources in development to build innovation capacity.  This includes an online module that will be made available to staff in Q1 2025.
  • Industry Collaboration: Collaborative efforts with the Life Science Hub and MediWales have produced a blueprint report for working with industry, informed by recent workshops.
  • Drone Collaboration Project (SBRI): The Trust's Head of Innovation participated in a House of Commons event exploring the impact of future flight technologies on local communities and the Team successfully completed the Partnership project.
  • ISO 56001 Implementation: The Trust is pioneering the implementation of the ISO 56001 Innovation Management System to foster a sustainable, organisation-wide culture of innovation.

 

10.6 Education and training

The Trust Innovation Office has developed an awareness module for innovation aligned with ISO 56001 for employee inductions. Discussions are ongoing with the University of Wales Trinity St. David to accredit the course and explore inclusion in broader strategic training programmes. ISO 56001 fundamentals training was commissioned. The Innovation Office contributed to the development of the NHS Wales Electronic module for innovation, this is to be made available April 2025 to the Trust and NHS /Social Care employees in Wales.

 

10.7 Publications

Publications include articles on the Welsh Drone Healthcare Partnership Delivery, a Bevan Exemplar article on specialist neuro-oncology community therapy services, a Journal of Decision Systems publication on clinical agility, and five MediWales Life Stories covering topics such as the Immunobuddies Podcast and the development of an Improvement Warehouse at WBS.

 

10.8 Conclusion

Velindre Innovation has achieved tangible progress across strategic and thematic objectives outlined in the Trust Innovation Strategic Plan. With an establishing innovation infrastructure, growing internal capability, and a culture that celebrates curiosity and creativity, the Trust is well-positioned to deliver sustained, impactful innovation. Whether through next-generation radiotherapy, staff-led Bright Ideas, or the future-ready Collaboration Centre for Research Learning and Innovation.