Clinical entrepreneur programme

Since 2016, the NHS clinical entrepreneur programme (NHS CEP) has supported over 1200 NHS staff in pursuing innovations to improve patient outcomes.

BMJ Group and its journal BMJ Innovations are proud to partner with the NHS CEP. This special collection of papers celebrates the published work of the NHS clinical entrepreneurs. It forms a growing legacy of the impact that the programme and clinical entrepreneurs have delivered for patients and the NHS.

This pre-print explores how innovation helped tackle urgent pandemic challenges, driving collaboration across disciplines and inspiring NHS-wide transformation. It focuses on the NHS clinical entrepreneur programme, a key initiative that empowers staff to drive change, develop new skills, and embed successful innovation into everyday care to meet today’s evolving healthcare needs.

This editorial examines barriers to innovation within the NHS and the emotional toll on clinical innovators. It shows how the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme supports belonging and identity, helping clinicians remain within the NHS while developing start-ups and leadership skills—ultimately enabling innovation to thrive without leaving frontline roles behind.

The annual Big Pitch event marks the commencement of the ninth cohort and celebrates the remarkable achievements of current clinical entrepreneurs.

The event featured main stage keynotes from Professor Sir Stephen Powis, senior DHSC and NHS leaders, partner panels, pitches from our entrepreneurs and an exhibition zone showcasing innovations from clinical entrepreneurs, innovators from other NHSE programmes and CEP partners.

Globally, 35 million children have disabling hearing loss. Learning to read is harder if you cannot hear the difference between words. However, this paper, published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, showcases how the wonderful concept of an ‘extendable ear’ increases accessibility to learning to read.

The articles in The BMJ’s Christmas edition have reignited an essential conversation about death. Radiology is uniquely positioned to be pivotal in shaping a more compassionate approach to mortality. This paper, published in The BMJ, discusses the increasing awareness of its contributions, and we can foster systems that respect cultural sensitivities and support grieving families.

This case study published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry (JNNP) highlights the diagnostic challenge of distinguishing low-grade glioma from post-ictal changes on MRI. It demonstrates how MR spectroscopy can clarify uncertainty, preventing unnecessary invasive procedures. A multidisciplinary approach using multimodal imaging enabled accurate diagnosis and effective treatment, underscoring the value of advanced radiological techniques in neurology.

“From the very first event, you’re surrounded by this amazing energy for improvement and innovation in the NHS.”

Laura Tan, Medical doctor, NHS clinical entrepreneur, and software developer