NHS hunting for tech innovators

NHS England has launched a programme for healthcare pioneers to develop and scale their innovations and new technologies across the NHS.

The NHS Innovation Accelerator programme has been unveiled by Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS England’s medical director, with up to 20 applicants from the UK or around the world to be chosen as fellows to participate in the programme.

NHS England says applicants should be “experienced innovators in healthcare who are currently leading or working on new technologies, services and processes that have the potential to make a real difference to patient outcomes.”

It says the programme will promote state-of-the-art development and new ways of delivering care, which are “essential” to easing the pressures on the NHS from an aging population and long-term conditions.

“The programme will focus on the conditions and cultural change needed to enable the NHS to adopt innovations at scale and pace, aiming to improve outcomes and give patients more equitable access to the latest products, services and technology.”

Successful candidates will be given support to develop and spread their innovations across parts of the NHS.

The programme will include a bespoke learning course and mentoring from “high-calibre” figures such as Sir Sam Everington, chair of the Tower Hamlets Clinical Commissioning Group, and Lord Ara Darzi, director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London.

Academic health science partnership UCLPartners and independent charity The Health Foundation are working with NHS England to deliver the programme in collaboration with patient groups and academic health science networks across the country.

The programme will offer successful candidates a range of support to develop and spread their innovations across parts of the NHS – such as access to international leaders in healthcare development and established networks through high calibre mentors including Lord Ajay Kakkar, Lord Ara Darzi, Sir John Tooke and Sir Sam Everington.

Sir Bruce said the programme “will build on our enviable history of discovery and innovation by embracing cutting-edge healthcare innovators from around the world to improve patient care while reducing costs and providing better value for the taxpayer.”

Dr Mahiben Maruthappu, senior fellow in NHS England’s Chief Executive’s Office and the programme lead, said: “Innovation is integral to a sustainable and successful NHS, and scaling cutting-edge innovations can improve patient care.

“The NHS Innovation Accelerator aims to build on our proud tradition of supporting advancements in healthcare, helping to secure our position as one of the best and most progressive healthcare systems in the world.”

The programme will be supported by the International Partnership for Innovative Healthcare Delivery, a collaboration including the World Economic Forum and Professor Victor Dzau, President of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences.

The first wave of applications is now open, but will close on 27 February. A final decision on the successful applicants expected to be made by the end of April.