Improving outcomes for women, babies, and families has never been just about clinical expertise. While technical skill saves lives, it is culture, the everyday behaviours, conversations, and values within teams, that determines whether care truly feels safe, compassionate, and equitable.

Listen to Head of Programme Delivery (Patient Safety and Improvement), Kay Khan and Deputy Head of Improvement Team, Alma Gallagher discuss the national Perinatal Culture and Leadership Programme (PCLP), which was created with this understanding at its heart.

It set out to connect leadership, culture, and safety improvement across the East Midlands, not as separate priorities, but as one shared ambition: To create environments where staff can thrive, and where women and families receive the safest, most compassionate care possible.

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In July our latest Impact Report (2025–2026) was published showcasing how we are supporting the NHS to improve patient outcomes, and accelerate the adoption of innovation across the East Midlands and beyond.

The report outlines how HIEM continues to play a vital role as part of England’s Health Innovation Network, helping health and care organisations to identify, test and scale innovative solutions to meet some of the NHS’s most pressing challenges.

Listen to Chief Executive Nicole McGlennon and Chair Prof Phil Baker, discuss the report in this podcast.

This episode explores the role of health innovation networks as catalysts for enabling innovation and collaborative working, using the SISU project in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, enabled by HIEM, as a real-world example. This podcast discusses how innovation and partnership working can support the delivery of neighbourhood health ambitions across the NHS, including moving care closer to people’s homes, improving prevention, and helping communities access support earlier. It also covers the key success factors supporting delivery.

 Resources linked to this podcast:

Health Innovation East Midlands will be offering support to 12 regional sites to help maternity staff to better identify signs that the baby is in distress during labour so they can act quickly - helping to prevent lifelong conditions like cerebral palsy. Listen to the programme leads and Clinical Faculty discuss the Avoiding Brain Injury in Childbirth (ABC) programme

https://healthinnovation-em.org.uk/our-work/patient-safety/maternity-and-neonatal-safety-improvement-programme/810-avoidable-brain-injuries-in-childbirth-abc/1985-avoidable-brain-injuries-in-childbirth-abc