Summary
The government has announced new funding of up to £86 million for UK firms to develop and test new technologies in the NHS. This development is a follow-up to the Accelerated Access Review (AAR).
This initiative for more rapid health innovation will involve England’s 15 Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs) coordinating local “Innovation Exchanges” to promote the application of new diagnostic tools, treatments and medical technologies.
“This could include innovations such as digital technologies to help patients manage their conditions from home instead of a hospital, or to develop new medicines”.
Reference
£86 million funding announced for new medicine and technology. [Online]: Department of Health and Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, July 14th 2017.
Further information of more local interest:
Reference
WMAHSN welcomes major government investment to speed up patient access to innovative medicines and technology. [Online]: West Midlands Academic Health Science Network (WMAHSN), July 14th 2017.
The Innovation Scorecard (NHS Digital)
Possibly of interest, the Innovation Scorecard is a quarterly report on the use of medicines and medical technologies in the NHS in England. This tool can be used by local NHS organisations to monitor their relative progress in implementing NICE Technology Appraisal (TA) recommendations.
Reference
NICE Technology Appraisals in the NHS in England (Innovation Scorecard): to December 2016. London [Online]: NHS Digital, July 12th 2017.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
An interim UK Research and Innovation website has been created by UK Research and Innovation, to provide news and information about this organisation ahead of their formal launch in April 2018. UK Research and Innovation will cover all of the UK, have a budget over £6 billion per year, and will pull together the Research Councils, Innovate UK and Research England (a new body).
Reference
UK Research and Innovation launches interim website. London: Medical Research Council (MRC), July 19th 2017.
