CW+: The Burdett Nursing Innovation Fellowship

Established in 2020 and funded by The Burdett Trust for Nursing, the Nursing Innovation Fellowship was the first role of its kind dedicated to championing innovation driven by nurses, midwives and allied health professionals. Over three years, the Fellow played a pivotal role in expanding Shared Decision Making (SDM) from just six wards to 50, enabling frontline teams to identify challenges and drive more than 70 quality improvement projects. These initiatives led to measurable impact from reducing surgical delays and cutting patient falls, to enhancing communication with families on paediatric wards. 

The Fellowship also delivered system‑wide benefits, including a patient transport project that saved the Trust £90,000 in four months by eliminating unnecessary ambulance journeys. Through training, mentorship, and SDM study days, more than 130 staff have been equipped with the skills and confidence to lead change. 

As part of the CW Innovation programme, the Fellow strengthened partnerships, supported Horizon Fellows and advanced nurse‑led research, with work showcased at major international conferences.