Health and care innovators are being encouraged to enter the 20th Bright Ideas in Health Awards, a milestone celebration of innovation across the North East and North Cumbria.
The North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (NENC ICB) are proud to sponsor this year’s awards, helping to champion the people and ideas making a difference across health and care.
Organised by Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria (HI NENC), the awards celebrate the people, teams, services and partnerships developing new ideas, technologies and ways of working that improve patient care, health and care services, workforce experience and outcomes for communities.
The awards are open to individuals and teams working across the wider health and care system, including the NHS, social care, public health, voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector, universities, regional businesses and organisations supporting health and care innovation.
Since launching in 2003, the Bright Ideas in Health Awards have recognised those going above and beyond to improve patient care, service delivery and system efficiency.
This year’s awards will recognise innovation across 14 categories:
Dr Nicola Hutchinson, Chief Executive for HI NENC, said: “Innovation happens across every part of the health and care system, from frontline services and community partnerships to digital, research, workforce and prevention programmes.
“As we mark the 20th Bright Ideas in Health Awards, we want to celebrate the individuals, teams and organisations across the North East and North Cumbria who are developing ideas that can make a real difference to patients, NHS staff, services and communities.
“I would encourage anyone working across health and care with a bright idea, whether big or small, to enter and help showcase the strength of innovation across our region.”
Entries close at 11:59pm on Friday, 27 November 2026.
Finalists will be announced in early 2027, with winners revealed at the awards ceremony on Thursday, 18 March 2027 at the Hilton Newcastle Tyne Bridge.
To submit a bright idea, visit:
https://brightideasinhealth.org.uk/?utm_source=toolkit&utm_medium=sponsor&utm_campaign=BIHA_20
