Dr Natasha Curran joins the Health Innovation Network as Medical Director

    March 21, 2018

    Dr Natasha Curran joins the Health Innovation Network as Medical Director

    The Health Innovation Network, south London’s leading innovation hub for health and care, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Natasha Curran as the organisation’s new Medical Director.

    Tara Donnelly, Chief Executive, Health Innovation Network, said:

    I’m delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Natasha Curran as our Medical Director. Natasha is an extremely patient-focused clinician, with a wealth of experience in quality improvement and clinical leadership. She has also run services in both community and acute settings in pain and musculoskeletal care and brings valuable knowledge of the wider London health system.

    “Her innovative and collaborative approach will be a real asset to us as we continue to grow the support we offer to our members across the Academic Health Science Network. I’m very much looking forward to working closely with Natasha on our wide range of projects to speed up the best in health and care.”

    Natasha was appointed Consultant in Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine at University College London Hospitals (UCLH) NHS Foundation Trust in 2008. She was the first doctor to be awarded Fellowship of the Faculty of Pain Medicine by assessment in the same year. She led the UCLH Pain Service from 2013-2018. Natasha has a considerable publication record, has authored NICE guidance for endometriosis, is a reviewer and advisor to UCL’s Perioperative Medicine and Pain Management MSc Programmes, and represents London on NHS England’s Clinical Reference Group for Specialised Pain. Most recently, Natasha has been Clinical Lead for a partnership providing the musculoskeletal service across the London Borough of Camden.

    Natasha will continue her clinical interest within the complex pain service at UCLH one day a week while working as Medical Director at the Health Innovation Network. She is also a member of Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group’s Governing Body.

    Prof Richard Barker OBE, Chair, Health Innovation Network, said:

    I’m delighted to welcome Natasha to the Health Innovation Network executive team. She brings broad clinical expertise and further credibility to our programmes. Appointments like this are further evidence that leaders in the NHS view the Academic Health Science Networks as major players in the vital transformation of the health service.”

    Dr Natasha Curran said:

    I passionately believe that we work more productively and more creatively when we work together. Taking up this position as Medical Director is an incredible opportunity to work across financial, clinical, geographical and sector silos to transform care and change outcomes for the better.

    “Working as a clinician for the past 20 years, I have seen countless examples of incredible innovation in the NHS, across a wide range of settings and disciplines. I’m looking forward to using this expertise to help unlock innovation across south London, working closely with colleagues across the AHSN Network.”

    Natasha will formally take up her role at the end of June 2018.

    The Health Innovation Network is one of 15 Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs) created to accelerate innovation across the NHS and social care. England’s 15 AHSNs were set up by the NHS in 2013 to work across all sectors involved in health and care – the NHS, social care, public health, universities, the voluntary sector and industry. They connect people and organisations, identifying innovative ways to do things better and cheaper.

    Since 2013 AHSNs have benefited over 6m patients, with more than 200 innovations spread throughout 11,000 locations. Over £330 million has been leveraged to support health and care services, with more than 500 jobs created. In July 2017 NHS England announced that the AHSNs will be relicensed from April 2018 to operate as the key innovation arm of the NHS.

    For examples of the AHSN innovation projects visit the AHSN Atlas.

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