We were delighted with the response to the inaugural SPAF Academy Innovation Awards Programme, receiving over 40 applications. These covered many diverse areas of patient care and totalled over £700,000 in funding requests.

These were thoroughly reviewed by the six members of the SPAF Academy Faculty, along with representation from the Primary Care Cardiovascular Society. Whilst judging the applications, in line with the publicised judging criteria, the Faculty were at pains to elucidate the degree of innovation, sustainability and reproducibility of the proposed projects.

The imperative to innovate in SPAF is clear, and the innovation agenda – as evidenced by the recent Nicholson report “Innovation: Health and Wealth in the NHS” – is at the heart of improving patient care.

We would like to thank everyone who submitted an application and would like to congratulate the successful recipients of the inaugural SPAF Academy Innovation Awards.