Driving Innovation in the NHS

With a new ten‑year NHS strategy on the horizon, the system is entering a period of significant change, with innovation firmly at the top of the agenda.

Yet for many clinicians and leaders, translating ambition into practice remains difficult. Structural constraints, funding mechanisms and cultural barriers continue to limit progress, prompting a growing number of clinicians to step outside the NHS to pursue innovation elsewhere. For those who remain committed to the values of a public healthcare system, this raises important questions about how new ideas are developed, sustained and ultimately reintegrated to strengthen the NHS.

This webinar will bring together experienced voices from across healthcare, research and innovation to explore these tensions openly and practically. The panel will be made up of Dr Louise Newson, a leading specialist in women’s health and menopause care, John Terry, Professor of Digital Health Innovation with a focus on epilepsy, and Dr Krishan Ramdoo, clinical entrepreneur in the ear health space.

Hosted by AMBITIOUS Managing Director, Laura Lear, the session will cover:

- How innovation is currently supported within the NHS, including grants, funding pathways and support networks

- What it takes for clinicians to develop an idea into a viable venture, and the realities of stepping into the private sector

- Whether NHS structures and culture enable or inhibit innovation, and where meaningful change is most needed

- Why so many clinicians feel compelled to innovate outside the system in order to create impact

- The professional, cultural and commercial barriers clinicians face when building innovation‑led businesses

- The role of research, data and evidence in underpinning credible and sustainable healthcare innovation

The panel will be chaired by Laura Lear, MD, AMBITIOUS.

Laura has over 25 years’ experience in global PR, corporate communications and reputation management. She has held leadership roles at agencies including tech specialist Hotwire, Edelman, McCann and Speed Communications.

Dr Louise Newson, founder, Newson Clinic

Dr Louise Newson is a GP, hormone specialist, Founder of Newson Clinic, the Dr Louise Newson podcast and the Balance app. Dr Newson is a highly respected voice in women's health, with years of clinical experience specialising in women’s hormones.

Through her clinical and educational work, as well as her research contributing to numerous peer-reviewed publications, she has empowered a generation of women to have a greater understanding, choice and control over their hormone treatment, bodies and mind.

A passionate advocate for education and better training for healthcare professionals, she has played a key role in changing international conversations around menopause and hormone treatments.

Louise studied Medicine and Pathology at The University of Manchester and pursued a career in hospital medicine before moving to specialise in General Practice and medical writing. She is a member of the Royal College of Physicians, a Fellow of the Royal College of GPs, Visiting Fellow at Murray Edwards College, Cambridge University and has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Health from Bradford University.

Louise has developed an education programme about women’s hormones for healthcare professionals. She has written and contributed to numerous academic papers and abstracts.

She works with a range of organisations to widen access to menopause and hormone health care, and collaborates with charities and professional bodies to raise awareness about hormones. Louise has worked in the media as an expert commentator on women’s hormone health.

Dr Krishan Ramdoo, founder, TympaHealth

Dr. Krishan Ramdoo is an international speaker, researcher, educator, and clinical entrepreneur committed to improving how communities access ear and hearing health.

After starting his medical career at Oxford University hospitals, he went on to become an Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon in London, and then registering his PhD at University College of London. From there he became keenly aware of the impact of hearing loss and the limitations of the current care system.

Coupled with his education and background, Dr. Krishan Ramdoo’s determination to change the landscape of ear and hearing health culminated in the birth of TympaHealth.

Professor John Terry FMediSci, co-founder and managing director, Neuronostics

John combines commercial acumen and academic excellence to drive the company’s vision. A world-leading epilepsy expert, John was awarded TechSpark Founder of the Year in 2024 and the recipient of the Tech South West Leadership prize in 2025. John has led our transformation from startup to a thriving 15-strong team, backed by £5M in grants and equity investment. Alongside his role at Neuronostics John is an EPSRC Established Career Fellow and Professor of Digital Health Innovation at University of Plymouth. Additionally, he is a Theme Lead in Enabling Technologies for the Epilepsy Research Institute.

*IMPORTANT: Please make sure you have set up a Zoom account to ensure easy access to the webinar.*