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HSE Spark Innovation Programme

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The ONMSD commenced a collaboration with the Spark Programme in 2019.

The Spark Innovation Programme seeks to support, promote and recognise innovation amongst healthcare staff within the HSE. The programme recognises the unique insights and perspectives of all frontline healthcare workers. The Spark team believe that the opportunity to develop one’s ideas is central to staff engagement, often inspiring for staff, encouraging recruitment, and supporting retention. We also believe that it is not solely about successful ideas but also about the potential shared learning for the system.

The Spark Programme urges all Nurses and Midwives, NCHDs, Health and Social Care Professionals with a problem solving mind, a desire to learn about design and innovation and more than anything are excited about seeing their ideas come to fruition to get involved as we want to help navigate your problem solving journey.

The objectives of the Spark Innovation Programme are to:

  • Encourage and support frontline innovation and quality improvement across all healthcare disciplines
  • Empower and engage frontline staff
  • Offer supports including funding, education and access to a network within the health innovation field
  • Provide design and innovation workshops and promote the role of user centred design in the health system
  • Create a supportive ecosystem for health innovators
  • Promote early engagement with emerging technology

The Spark Innovation Programme is supported by:

  • Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director (ONMSD)
  • National Doctors Training & Planning (NDTP)
  • National Health and Social Care Professions Office (HSCP)

ONMSD Nursing and Midwifery National Fellowship in Innovation

The Nursing and Midwifery National Fellowship in Innovation gives a clinical nurse or midwife the opportunity to develop their innovation and leadership skills and shape the Spark Programme.

Applications for 2025 to 2026 Nursing & Midwifery National Innovation Fellowships is now closed.

To find out more about the HSE Spark Innovation Programme Innovation Fellowship here: Fellowship Applicant Brief (PDF, 8.5 MB, 17 pages).

Spark Newsletter Issue 1- 2025

https://healthservice.hse.ie/documents/5152/Spark_Newsletter_Issue_1_2025.pdf

Spark Design

Design Workshops

As part of their ‘Spark Design’ offerings The Spark Innovation Programme provide an online Design Thinking Workshop to assist frontline staff in their innovation journey.

Learn about design thinking, develop a design thinking mind-set to problems in your workplace and learn how to give the perfect pitch.

The workshop is accessible to all frontline healthcare staff.

For more information: Spark Design Thinking Workshops - Staff site (hse.ie)

If you have any queries or would like to get involved please contact us on spark@hse.ie

Spark Seed

Spark Seed enables frontline healthcare workers to apply for micro funding (up to €5,000 per individual or group) for innovative projects that have the potential to improve our health service. We welcome ideas from a range of innovators, all nursing and midwifery, health and social care professionals and doctors are encouraged to apply.

To find out more: Seed Funding - HSE.IE

Spark Ignite

Spark Ignite helps frontline staff with scalable/commercial ideas explore their products and service ideas with experts in this healthcare space.

To find out more: Spark Ignite - mentorship and funding for commercial and scalable healthcare innovations - Staff site (hse.ie)

Spark Summit 2025

Taking place at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre on Wednesday 11 June 2025, the conference will bring together international experts, policymakers, change agents, and frontline colleagues to explore the latest advancements in healthcare innovation. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with inspiring keynote speakers, panel discussions, and live showcases of ground breaking projects that are shaping the future of healthcare in Ireland and beyond.

Spark Summit is a unique health innovation conference for healthcare staff, industry and academics. The summit focuses on the exciting innovations that are transforming the ways that we provide care!

Tickets are available now. Prices for health service staff start as low as €40.

Secure your place at this inspiring event and find out more - eventbrite.ie

Watch Spark Summit 2024

Learn about the inspiring speakers and award-winning projects that took centre stage at Spark Summit 2024.

Annual report of the nursing and midwifery contribution to the Spark Innovation Programme

Read about the extensive contribution of Nurses and Midwives to the Spark Innovation Programme in the Annual reports:

More information

Read more about the Spark Innovation Programme.

Terms of Reference for the ONMSD Spark Programme Collaboration

The ONMSD Spark Collaboration lead is Dr Maureen Flynn.

Email: Maureena.flynn@hse.ie

Phone: 087 9317014

The ONMSD National Spark Innovation Fellow is Catherine Marsh Email: catherine.marsh@hse.ie

Phone: 087 4739842

Related topic

National Nursing and Midwifery Innovation Fellowship (Word, size 150 KB, 9 pages)

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