I am delighted to introduce this year-long series of articles about innovation from leading thinkers and practitioners around the world.

The NHS is committed to improving quality for our patients while managing with less growth in the future. To achieve that, the NHS needs a relentless focus on improving quality and productivity, with innovation and prevention connecting and driving them. This means looking at patient pathways and what value we can add to that journey to improve the experience of our patients.

We need to get smarter about using what we already have

We know there is a huge amount out there about what works and what delivers value. We need to get smarter about using what we already have and ensuring our staff have access to the best information and evidence.

That’s what this series is all about. It’s designed to stimulate and encourage innovation that really makes a difference for our patients.