Leaders from the NHS, universities, industry and research organisations came together at the South Yorkshire Research and Innovation Expo, delivered by Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber’s South Yorkshire Innovation Hub, this month to focus on one question: how do we create healthier futures for children and young people?

When we talk about the future of healthcare, children and young people must be at the heart of the conversation. Across South Yorkshire and nationally, children are facing increasingly complex health challenges.

The proportion of children aged 8-16 assessed by the NHS as having a probable mental health disorder increased from 12.5% in 2019 to 20.3% in 2023. At the same time, recent progress in reducing emergency admissions for childhood asthma has been reversed, with rates rising to 147.9 per 100,000 children in 2023/24.

Rising rates of long-term conditions, growing mental health needs and increasing numbers of children living with complex conditions are placing new demands on healthcare services.
At the same time, young people and their families are asking us to deliver care differently, with a greater focus on prevention, early intervention and support closer to home.

These challenges cannot be solved by one individual or organisation. They demand fresh thinking, stronger partnerships and a commitment to turning ideas into solutions. That's why research and innovation have never been more important.

At Sheffield Children's, creating healthier futures for children and young people has always been our mission. As we celebrate our 150th year, we can look back on a proud history of research and innovation that has transformed care for generations of children.

This work has positioned Sheffield Children’s at the heart of a child health ecosystem in South Yorkshire, which is nationally unique and internationally renowned.

It’s through partnerships with the University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University, the South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, NHS organisations, industry and charities, that we have created an environment where ideas can move from concept to real-world impact.

That approach is exactly what the South Yorkshire Research and Innovation Expo celebrated. The event showcased the expertise, infrastructure and partnerships helping to position our region as a national leader in children's health research and innovation.

Today, that innovation opportunity is embodied in Sheffield Children’s newest world-class facility, The Spark, home of the National Centre for Child Health Technology (NCCHT). For too long technology for children has lagged adult care; our vision with the NCCHT is to close this gap and lead the way in developing technology with and for children to tackle some of the biggest health challenges facing young people.

Innovation is not only about major scientific breakthroughs. It's often about solving everyday problems that can have a profound impact on a child's experience of healthcare. We see this in projects exploring technologies to reduce anxiety around needles and blood tests, collaborations investigating whether screen-free audio experiences could improve sleep for neurodiverse children, and bespoke sleep masks developed after families told us standard equipment designed for adults simply did not meet children's needs.

Alongside this, our research teams continue to lead studies advancing genomic medicine, improving treatment options for rare conditions and working with industry to provide access to pioneering treatments through global clinical trials.

As we came together at the Expo, the message was simple: the opportunity in front of us is enormous. We have spent 150 years building the expertise, relationships and ambition that bring us to this point. Now we have the chance to go further, making South Yorkshire the place where the next generation of child health innovation is developed, tested and adopted.

Because every child deserves the very best start in life. Research and innovation give us the opportunity, and the responsibility, to make that ambition a reality.



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