Supporting clinical innovation: An organization-wide approach to practice-based development

Engaging clinicians in practice development initiatives can be a daunting task, especially if those staff groups are spread over a five-site NHS Trust. Within Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (STHFT), the geography across the city adds a unique dimension to bringing about changes in practice and using the best possible evidence. Specific strategies need to be put in place in order to enable clinicians to access specialist help within the Trust, using the available networks to their best advantage and thereby reducing repetition. The role of a practice development team situated within such a large organization can influence changes in practice and encourage newer innovative ways of working. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.