Posted on 10/04/2018 by

Four innovations are to be fast-tracked into use through NHS England’s Innovation and Technology Payment programme.

The scheme aims to deliver improvements in patient care by cutting bureaucracy for clinicians and innovators and encouraging uptake through the NHS.

The approved innovations are an image analysis software that creates a 3D model of the heart, which could prevent thousands of patients from undergoing invasive tests; a surgical suture that reduces the risk of infections such as MRSA; a new type of bowel scope that improves colorectal examination for patients; and a device that cuts intravenous catheter-related infections.

NHS England has also announced today a nationally-backed trial of technology to cut missed hospital appointments, and a further £1.5m to pump prime the spread of innovations.

According to the organisation, promising developments are sometimes not adopted across the NHS because of a lack of evidence to support their use.

The cash found by the NHS body will fund real-world evaluations of innovations.

This is the second year of the drive to identify and fast-track specific innovations into the health sector, which NHS England says has already benefitted 75,000 patients.

The NHS’s own innovation agencies will take direct responsibility for accelerating uptake locally.

Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, said: “From the very beginning the NHS has been at the forefront of driving innovation, as we celebrate the NHS’s 70th birthday the NHS continues to champion innovation.

“These technologies will improve patient safety and potentially reduce the need for invasive and expensive tests.”

Professor Tony Young, the body’s national clinical lead for innovation, explained: “For new innovations to flourish and spread at scale access to funding is critical, by buying these four innovations centrally NHS England has removed the barriers to the spread of these innovations so patients can benefit faster.”

Source: NationalHealthExecutive