Senior NHS leader takes innovation Chair role

A Senior Leader with 38 years' experience in the NHS has taken over as Chair of Health Innovation North West Coast.

Louise Robson has spent 26 years on the boards of NHS organisations. She was Chief Executive, at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, leading a challenging improvement agenda, and was Acting Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive, at The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

She was also Chief Executive Lead for Provider Collaboration for the North of England, working with seven integrated care systems, 15 provider collaboratives and more than 70 trusts, as well as liaising with national colleagues on policy development.

She is stepping down as a Non-Executive Director, at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to take on her new role.

Louise takes the helm as Health Innovation North West Coast embarks on its newly awarded 5 year licence to drive the adoption and spread of innovations in health and care systems.

She said:- "There could hardly be a more exciting time to be joining Health Innovation North West Coast. Innovation needs to be at the heart of our efforts to tackle the challenges the NHS will continue to face in the coming years. Part of that challenge is to make sure innovations reach the parts of our systems that will benefit most. I'm hoping the relationships I've built over the years in this Region and nationally will help us bring solutions to the attention of decision makers."

Louise, who joins Health Innovation North West Coast, in January 2023, replaces Gideon Ben-Tovim OBE, the founding Chair of what was originally the Innovation Agency, who held the role for 10 years.

Health Innovation North West Coast Chief Executive Dr Phil Jennings said:- "Louise brings with her a great wealth of experience and excellent relationships with decision-makers in our area. We believe we have a reputation in the health and care community as an organisation that can help deliver solutions to some of the greatest challenges our systems face. I'm sure Louise will help reinforce that reputation and we're very pleased she's joining us."

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS FT where Louise was Acting Chief enjoys a strong reputation internationally and, along with Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, is 1 of the few in the country to achieve CQC:- 'outstanding' ratings over several years.

A clinician by training, Louise, who lives in Cheshire, has also served as Chair of Newcastle Specials pharmacy production unit, which is based at The Newcastle upon Tyne NHS FT, has been a Company Director for several health related spin out companies, and participated in the launch of the Office for Life Sciences' Industrial Strategy.

Young authors celebrated at Bootle Children's Literary Festival!

YOUNG people across Sefton were invited to take part in a competition and use their imagination to write modern fairy tales, rewrite fables and create stories about fantastic beasts this year.

Bootle Children's Literary Festival, delivered by YKids, a charity dedicated to encouraging young people to believe that they can change the world and make a difference, celebrated its 4th year in 2023.

Through a grant from 1 Vision Housing's Community Development Fund, Ykids were able to publish and distribute 800 copies of a book, including the magical tales created by young authors in Sefton, to local Schools and community groups.

In a celebration, the children were invited to sign copies of their book alongside special guest and acclaimed children's author Frank Cotrell Boyce.

Claire Morgans, a spokesperson from Ykids said:- "We were delighted to work with 1 Vision Housing to deliver the Bootle Children's Literary Festival. Thank you for supporting the festival and making the publication possible."

One Vision Housing provides over 13.6k homes across the North West, and as part of The Sovini Group works closely with partner organisations like Ykids to forge a better future for communities.

Ian Mitchell, Managing Director at 1 Vision Housing said:- "As part of The Sovini Group, we are committed to creating opportunities and changing lives. We are thrilled to have supported Bootle Children's Literary Festival, which supports our vision of a better future by encouraging children to get creative. The stories told throughout this book are incredibly imaginative and have been a joy to read; well done to everyone involved."

A total of £15,000 is available each year for voluntary and community groups through 1 Vision Housing's Community Development Fund. Applications can be submitted at any time throughout the year.

To learn more about the fund and how to apply for a grant, please visit:- OVH.Org.UK.