The innovation team at Newcastle Hospitals has a new project manager to work with staff to develop and grow their bright ideas.
Michelle Waugh has joined the team to provide expertise and guidance to help shape and inform innovation projects across the trust which have the potential to benefit patients, their families, carers and staff.
Working closely with the trust’s business innovation manager Charlotte Fox, Michelle is supporting the creation and launch of a new innovation strategy for the trust including developing a clear innovation pathway to facilitate ideas.
“I’m excited to join the team and to get started on supporting a diverse range of projects to help improve care for our patients and to support staff in their day-to-day roles,” she said.
“Our team can support innovators at the trust with the ‘next steps’ to bring their ideas to fruition, whether it be shaping a new product or service; a new model of care to support patients or adopting something that has worked well elsewhere.
“I’d love to hear from anyone who would like to discuss their ideas, unmet needs and challenges to see how I can provide support through each stage of the innovation pathway.”
Michelle brings 27 years of experience of working in the public sector to the role, including for the police in children’s safeguarding, and latterly the forensic science department, where she become a nationally qualified and registered fingerprint expert representing the police in some high-profile cases.
Innovation sparked her interest for her next role at the Academic Health Science Network where Michelle focused on supporting innovative projects which aimed to improve population health, liaising with collaborative partners from the NHS, industry, third sector and academia across the north east and north Cumbria.
She joins the commercial enterprise team at Newcastle Hospitals as innovation project manager.
If you have an idea or would like to find out more about innovation at Newcastle Hospitals please contact us. Or alternatively you can find out more about the team.
