Health Innovation Network South London highlighted in Parliament as NHS Innovation Adoption Awards nominee
April 21, 2026Post Title
On 14 April, the Health Innovation Network (HIN) South London attended the Health and Life Sciences Showcase at Parliament, hosted by Curia, UKAI and UK Healthcare and Life Sciences Innovation (UKHLSI).
Short and Sweet Headlines are Best!
Short and Sweet Headlines are Best!
The event brought together innovators, Parliamentarians and NHS leaders to highlight health, life sciences and AI projects delivering real‑world impact, with discussion focused on moving innovation more quickly from policy into practice.
Mindset-XR recognised in NHS Innovaton Adoption Awards
During the event, Jo Bekis, CEO of UKHLSI, announced the HIN South London as a nominee in the Digital Innovation category of the NHS Innovation Adoption Awards, recognising its work through the Mindset‑XR Innovation Support Programme.
The HIN was represented by Ayo Chike Michael, Senior Project Manager, and Clare Leahy, Marketing Communications Manager, on behalf of the wider team, including Aileen Jackson, Head of Mental Health, Jill Owens, Programme Manager and Roger Hendicot, Project Support Assistant.
Leadership reflections on impact
Short and Sweet Headlines are Best!
Reflecting on the nomination, Amanda Begley, Director of Digital and Transformation at the HIN, said:
“This recognition highlights progress in growing the immersive technology market through Innovate UK’s Mindset-XR programme, which aims to leverage innovative solutions to improve the lives of people affected by mental health conditions.”Amanda Begley, Director of Digital and Transformation
She added:
“We’re already seeing increased adoption of immersive technologies that are delivering real impact whether that’s supporting people who are experiencing mental health challenges or enabling clinicians to train in new and innovative ways. This nomination reflects the progress being made by innovators, service users, adopters, and researchers working together to embed innovation and make a meaningful difference for the people and communities we serve.”Amanda Begley, Director of Digital and Transformation
About the Mindset-XR Innovation Support Programme
The Mindset‑XR Innovation Support Programme, part of Innovate UK’s £20m Mindset XR programme, supports innovators at every stage of developing, testing and preparing XR products for real‑world NHS use.
The 74 Mindset‑supported projects have collectively secured over 100 pilot or contract sites, created 57 jobs and attracted £1.33m in follow‑on funding, with six projects reporting MHRA Class I certification and several progressing towards Class I or II.
Innovators supported through the programme include:
- Holly Health – A digital behaviour‑change platform used by over 70,000 patients, delivering a 30% reduction in GP appointments and reducing waiting lists.
- SyncVR – A clinical VR and XR platform deployed across 523 healthcare departments internationally.
- Tend VR – An NHS‑deployed VR mindfulness‑based cognitive therapy that is 2–5 times more affordable than traditional talking therapies.
- XR Therapeutics – A therapeutic XR provider reducing treatment duration and delivering cost savings across five NHS trusts; the first XR company commissioned by an ICB and included on the NHS Innovation Accelerator
To date, the Mindset-XR programme has delivered 2,588 uses of its e‑learning platform, alongside webinars, communications surgeries and events.
National leadership support for AI and innovation adoption
At the showcase, Dr Arrash Yassaee of NHS England highlighted the role of Health Innovation Networks in driving AI and innovation adoption as part of the 10 Year Health Plan for England, while Lawrence Tallon, Chief Executive of the MHRA, outlined progress in regulatory pathways to support safe AI deployment in healthcare.
Supporting this work, Hardian Health, one of the Mindset‑XR subcontractors, is helping innovators navigate MHRA requirements and achieve regulatory approval for cutting‑edge mental health and digital health technologies.
Awards announcement
Winners of the UKHLSI Parliamentary Pathfinder – NHS Innovation Adoption Awards will be announced later in the year.
Resources
Find out more about the Mindset-XR Innovation Support Programme.
