Patients across the country will benefit from a £30 million government investment in innovative medical technology which will help ease pressures on the NHS this winter and could include the expansion of 3D checks that speed up cancer tests and novel logistics solutions such as the use of drones.
Local NHS areas known as integrated care systems will be able to submit bids to the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England to access the funds so they can roll out the technology - with applications expected to open this month. Earlier this year, the government published its medical technology strategy, which set out steps to ensure patients can access safe, effective and innovative technology through the NHS.
The new funding comes on top of a series of other measures the government is taking to support the NHS this winter. In September, an additional £200 million was invested in the health service to boost resilience and help patients get the care they need as quickly as possible in the coming months. The Urgent and Emergency Care Recovery Plan, announced in January, also committed to deliver 5,000 additional permanent, fully staffed hospital beds, 10,000 virtual ward beds and 800 new ambulances, backed by £1 billion.
Health and Social Care Secretary, Steve Barclay, said: “It is vital that clinicians have access to the latest technology to save staff time, deliver high quality care and help cut waiting lists - one of the government’s top five priorities. This investment will see the latest tech innovations rolled out across the NHS. From virtual ward beds to wearable medical devices, patients will be better supported, and we will ease pressures on hospitals this winter.”
NHS interim National Director of Transformation, Dr Vin Diwakar, added: “The NHS’s world-leading ability to adopt new technology has already helped more than 210,000 patients be treated in their own homes through the rollout of virtual wards, and this new funding will allow the health service to adopt more innovations that improve patient care and reduce pressure on wider services.”