Their stated purpose is to improve patient outcomes and generate economic benefits by promoting and encouraging the adoption of innovation in healthcare.
[1] A report in 2008 by Lord Ara Darzi[2] noted that the NHS was poor at innovating, and suggested wider collaboration between industry, education and all aspects of healthcare.
[citation needed] Although their purpose is clear, the structure and approach of individual AHSNs is a matter for local decision.
A senior AHSN figure told the Health Service Journal that NHS England risked "castrating" the programme by cutting the budget and by a perceived lack of promotion of the networks.
"They are trying to save a comparatively small amount of money [by cutting the budget] but in doing so they risk castrating the AHSNs.