Nursing Times together with Nesta have found that nurses at the frontline of health and care feel there is not a culture of listening to, acting on or supporting innovation and new ideas.

The survey conducted over the past month found that nearly 9 out of 10 (88%) said they have had an idea about ways to improve the service they work in, yet less than half (38%) say they feel supported to come forward and only a third (34%) feel supported to try out their new ideas.

Over 300 frontline health and care staff across the UK were polled, of which 87% were nurses, and said new ways of doing things are being overlooked due to understaffing (31%) and bureaucratic processes (28%).

When asked what areas of work had improved when new ideas or ways of working had been tried out, (1) improving the wellbeing of patients, (2) collaborating for more effectively with other teams and (3) being able to use their time more effectively came out on top. This highlights the different areas of NHS and care work that could be improved if workers were supported to innovate.

As the NHS starts to implement the Long Term Plan and reforms are due to be made in social care, Nesta is calling for senior managers in health and care to take seriously the need to make space for innovation and, importantly, allow those who deliver services to be at the forefront of driving change.

Halima Khan, Executive Director of Health, People and Impact at Nesta, said: “The health and care system is being held back by failing to act on ideas from staff at the frontline. This is a colossal waste of valuable system intelligence. It also leaves staff feeling demotivated and frustrated - so it’s doubly damaging.

“At Nesta, we believe it’s time to reimagine leadership in health by recognising that leadership should happen throughout, not just at the top of the hierarchy. We need to recognise that those at the frontline of services have the expertise to drive significant improvements: what they need is permission and support to do so. In taking a more participatory approach to leadership, the health and care system can build a culture of innovation from the ground up and better meet the challenges it faces.”

Steve Ford, editor of Nursing Times, said he hoped the survey results could be used as an evidence base for campaigning in the future to make it easier for nurses to innovate.

“We at Nursing Times understand how important it is for the nursing profession to innovate; this vital work ultimately improves patient care and makes life better for nurses themselves. But we also realise that innovation isn’t easy. A host of factors can prevent a good idea – that famous lightbulb moment – from becoming reality – such as lack of time, staff shortages or organisational cultures that stifle innovation.

“Healthcare settings, by their very nature, can be quite hierarchical and based on rules. However, without innovation little progress can be made and care cannot improve.”

The results are published as over 300 pioneers in health and care come together today to reimagine leadership at Nesta’s 2019 Future of People Powered Health Summit. Nesta’s work in health champions a participatory approach to leadership which has been tried and tested over five years through our 100 Day Challenge. Through this method frontline staff test different approaches and work across professional boundaries, within a defined period

Through our 100 Day Challenges, Nesta has worked with many nurses whose innovative ideas have had huge impacts on care and services over short periods of time. Everything from a nurse-led clinic for low-risk glaucoma referrals - reducing referral to treatment times from 20 weeks to 13 weeks - to nurses running patient education classes for those at risk of diabetes and seeing an improvement in their condition after just one lesson.

ENDS

For more information and further polling results, please contact Wallis Grant in Nesta’s press office on 020 7438 2581 or 07557 162 651, [email protected]

Notes to editors

• About the poll: The poll was conducted online by Nursing Times and Nesta. Total sample size was 309 of which 87% self-identified as nurses. The poll was carried out between June 3rd to July 10th 2019.
• 100 Day Challenge: https://www.nesta.org.uk/feature/six-initiatives-opening-health-innovation-around-world/people-powered-results/

About Nesta: Nesta is an innovation foundation. For us, innovation means turning bold ideas into reality and changing lives for the better. We use our expertise, skills and funding in areas where there are big challenges facing society. We've spent over 20 years working out the best ways to make change happen through research and experimenting, and we've applied that to our work in innovation policy, health, education, government innovation and the creative economy and arts. Nesta is based in the UK and supported by a financial endowment. We work with partners around the globe to bring bold ideas to life to change the world for good.