Ben Bridgewater

Background

About Ben Bridgewater

I am the Chief Executive of Health Innovation Manchester, Greater Manchester's integrated academic health science and innovation organisation. I have recently (October 2025) also been appointed as the Executive Chair of the National Health innovation Network.Health Innovation Manchester comprises Manchester's Academic Health Science Centre, Academic Health Science Network (now rebranded as Health Innovation Network), the GM NIHR Applied Research Collaboration and the GM NHS city region digital office including developing, hosting and operating the GM NHS Secure data environment. The mission is to drive innovation into the needs of the devolved city region of Greater Manchester at pace and scale. Health Innovation Manchester is unusual as a place-based health and lS innovation organisation in that we focus on 4 things - integrated governance (across the NHS, local authorities, academia and industry), Integrated capabilities (drawing from academic, clinical, project management, industry and digital expertise), industry partnerships and an unrelenting focus on innovation method (bulldingg on approaches from industries in the digital transformed sectors). More details on our approach, projects and impacts can be found on our website.At DXC Technology I played a leading role developing innovative solutions and guiding healthcare providers in digital transformation.I am an expert on health informatics, national clinical audit, clinical governance, healthcare transparency, patient experience measurement, innovation and digital transformation in healthcare.I previously provided clinical leadership at the National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research, UCL, for the UK national cardiac audit programme.I led analyses that provide UK hospital and surgeon cardiac surgery mortality rates to the public. The programme is world-leading and associated with 50% reduction in risk-adjusted mortality over 10 years.I led the unique national programme to publish activity and mortality for surgeons in 12 specialties on behalf of NHS England.I have extensive NHS management and governance experience.I have been awarded several national prizes including nomination as one of the HSJ Top 50 Innovators in Health 2013 and 2014.I have published numerous, high-profile academic outputs and developed innovative IT tools for disseminating clinical outcomes to professionals and the public.I have consulting experience with Deloitte, the NHS and Edwards Lifesciences.