Clinicians working within the NHS encounter problems every day within their practice, but many are unaware that there are national NHS-supported pathways that can help them turn challenges into innovative solutions.

The Clinical Entrepreneur Programme (CEP) is a national workforce development programme for clinical and non-clinical NHS staff, led by NHS England and delivered with Anglia Ruskin University. It is the world’s largest programme of its kind, designed to equip NHS staff with the commercial and entrepreneurial skills needed to develop budding ideas into reality while continuing to work within the NHS.

Muhammad Shahzad, a neurosurgery registrar at UHP, is an example of how colleagues can develop an idea or problem they have spotted into a practical solution through The Clinical Entrepreneur Programme. Muhammad identified a significant challenge in neurosurgery while operating on brain tumours and vascular malformations.

“Surgeons are required to repeatedly switch between instruments under a microscope. Even if you are quick, even if your scrub nurse is excellent, every switch adds time and because it happens 30 to 100 times per case, it really adds up” he explains. “Every switch contributes to increased fatigue, longer operating times, prolonged anaesthesia, and greater blood loss. For the NHS, it results in higher operative costs, accelerated equipment wear, and reduced theatre throughput.”

While some hybrid instruments currently exist, they are often poorly adopted due to unfamiliar ergonomics or workflow disruption. The problem was bought to an innovation workshop hosted by the Royal College of Surgeons I-Hub. The workshop bought together surgeons from diverse specialisms and industry experts to explore Shahzad’s challenge and collaboratively discuss potential solutions. This led to the idea of two‑in‑one bipolar forceps incorporating a retractable blade, that has been named CAMBIS, (Combined-Action Micro-Bipolar Scissors). It allows surgeons to switch between cutting and cauterising without removing the instrument from their field of vision.

“Across the country there is a real push towards clinicians being involved in innovation, not just being given devices by industry” says Muhammad. “I had no idea about the support and services available through the NHS to help clinicians in developing their innovations further.”

“The most important thing for me isn’t the device itself,” he says. “It’s discovering that this entire support ecosystem exists. If you identify a clinical problem, there are national programmes designed to help you explore solutions, even if you don’t have any prior experience in innovation or device development.”

The work is now progressing in collaboration with the University of Plymouth with grant applications supporting further development

Lucy Dentice, Programme Manager for NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme says, “The programme supports the NHS ‘Fit for the Future’ 10‑Year Plan by keeping patient benefit at the centre of innovation, while also helping to develop the skills and confidence of the NHS workforce. It gives clinicians like Muhammad Shahzad the tools, mindset and support to approach everyday challenges through a more entrepreneurial lens and turn them into practical solutions that improve safety, efficiency and patient outcomes. Through its strong community of peers, mentors and partners, CEP helps foster a more confident, innovative workforce that can meet future demand and improve patient experience.”

Muhammad hopes sharing his experience will encourage other clinicians to explore the innovation pathways available to them.

“If more clinicians realise these opportunities exist, we’ll see more solutions driven by the people who understand patient care best.”

For more information on development opportunities and how to apply, visit nhscep.com. You can watch Muhammad talk about developing his idea here.