Government announces seven 'Test Bed' sites across England
Seven healthcare organisations have been named as ‘Test Bed’ sites for a new Government initiative to drive adoption of innovation with the NHS.
Launched as part of the NHS Five Year Forward View, the sites will collaborate with industry to evaluate the real-world impact of new technologies, offering both better care and better value for taxpayers.
This will provide the funding and the opportunity to work alongside partners to test out new approaches that support patients to remain in their own homes for as long as possible, while potentially transforming and improving the way that we care for our elderly and those managing long-term conditions
A Department of Health spokesman said: “There is no shortage of innovation in the NHS, but too often innovations do not have the reach or impact that would be expected in other industries. This is due to innovations being tested in isolation from the complementary NHS services needed to unlock their full potential. Innovations have also been implemented without rigour and discipline, generating little evidence about how to achieve impact in real-world NHS settings.
“The test bed programme provides the opportunity to combine different technologies with innovations in how services are delivered in the NHS. This might be a new service delivery model for people with dementia that combines wearable devices linked into mobile or other digital technology, implemented alongside technology-enabled housing and a lower-cost nurse or allied health professional workforce model.”
Full details of the Test Bed sites are as follows:
There will also be two ‘Internet of Things’ Test Beds collaborations. They are:
Heather Tierney Moore, chief executive of Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, said of its involvement: “I am absolutely delighted that the Lancashire and Cumbria Innovation Alliance (LCIA) has been chosen as a Test Bed site by NHS England. This will provide the funding and the opportunity to work alongside partners to test out new approaches that support patients to remain in their own homes for as long as possible, while potentially transforming and improving the way that we care for our elderly and those managing long-term conditions.
We believe this type of collaborative approach between industry and health and care providers is an excellent opportunity to improve patient outcomes while at the same time reducing the total cost of care
“The role of the North West Coast Academic Health Science Network in supporting the bid and introducing commercial partners is very much appreciated by the LCIA and it is a real privilege to be working with Philips as our main innovation partner.”
Neil Mesher, managing director of Philips UK&I, added: “Philips is proud to be involved in this pioneering new project. We believe this type of collaborative approach between industry and health and care providers is an excellent opportunity to improve patient outcomes while at the same time reducing the total cost of care. Supporting patients to meet their own individual goals is an objective Philips is delighted to be involved with.”
