Applications open for NHSX’s Digital Health Partnership Award

Applications have opened for a scheme which aims to accelerate the adoption of digital health technologies to support those with long-term conditions.

NHSX’s Digital Health Partnership Award, which opened for application bids on 1 July 2021, has been set up to allow for health to be monitored at home or in the community.

The award is open to those NHS organisations which are ready to scale their proven digital health technologies. It is not suitable for NHS organisations who are looking at short-term adoption of digital health technologies; siloed approaches to interoperability and data; or those looking for support to deliver an already-funded programme of work.

There are three categories of funding available: up to £100,000, £250,000 and £500,000. The award will support technologies across the spectrum of development, from novel deployment through to scaling proven technology.

Application bids are required to meet existing standards such as for the technology to adhere to the Digital Technology Assessment Criteria. Additionally, applicants must show evidence to validate the success and shared learning opportunities for future scaling options.

Other information needed includes:

• How the technology will be used
• How it will be implemented and adopted by patients
• What value supporting partners can bring and how they can accelerate the delivery
• How the proposed funding will be allocated
• The expected impact on the cohort of targeted patients.

A key component of the bid will be demonstrating how partnerships can enable the rapid scale, deployment and uptake of the technology. They will be assessed for their combination of partners across three areas:

• Scaling through leveraging technology partners
• Patient activation and adoption
• Outcomes, benefits and evidence of impact realisation and reporting.

NHS organisations will also need to show how they intend to secure financial sustainability to continue the work and ensure that proposals can demonstrate preparedness for implementation within three months of the funding.

The bid applications will be evaluated through an open and transparent process. An independent panel of healthcare professionals will be involved alongside NHSX, NHS England and NHS Improvement senior stakeholders.

Applications are now open until 31 July 2021 and feedback will be given to all applications in August, when a shortlist will also be published. Award confirmation will follow in September, after shortlisted candidates have made presentations.

More information on how to apply can be found here.