NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit (Arden & GEM) and the Satellite Applications Catapult have agreed a formal partnership to further embed the potential of satellite technology within digital healthcare transformation.
The Satellite Applications Catapult, an independent innovation and technology company created by Innovate UK, drives economic performance through the exploitation of space infrastructure and relevant satellite applications.
Having worked together on a series of successful joint projects over the past 18 months, Arden & GEM and the Catapult are formalising the relationship to further advance collaboration between the NHS and the UK space and satellite sector.
Existing initiatives have used satellite technology in the management of long-term conditions, including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and diabetes, as well as improving ambulance connectivity.
In Scotland, the partnership has been part of an innovative trial to combine satellite connectivity with ingestible endoscopy technology, to help improve early diagnosis, reduce the burden on local hospitals, while reducing cost and improving patient convenience.
The success of this project has led to a rollout of the solution across Scotland.
This exciting partnership will drive cross-industry understanding and expertise to deliver innovation within digitally-enabled care
These projects have identified the potential of satellite technology to help shift care into the community, address critical workforce challenges, encourage patient self-management, and improve preventative care.
And the partnership will continue to realise this potential through a series of further projects which harness satellite connectivity, monitoring and data to develop sustainable health and care solutions.
Projects will focus on combining satellite intelligence with complementary technologies to respond directly to patient needs and support social prescribing and community interventions.
As well as the potential for growth in both organisations, the partnership will lead to more cross-organisational working and raise awareness across the NHS of the potential and scope of projects utilising satellite and related technologies. The partnership’s vision will be to create a range of innovations that provide solutions for priority healthcare challenges.
Wendy Lane, consultancy services director at Arden & GEM, said : “We look forward to building on the success of our collaborative digital transformation programmes that embrace satellite technology, the wider space sector and the Government’s Industrial Strategy.
The NHS is facing a number of critical challenges, and connectivity and space derived technology has a vital role to play in supporting the delivery of a more preventative care system
“This exciting partnership will drive cross-industry understanding and expertise to deliver innovation within digitally-enabled care.”
Stuart Martin, chief executive at Satellite Applications Catapult, added: “We are delighted to be continuing our ground-breaking collaboration with the NHS and are proud to be playing what we hope will be a major role in the digital transformation of patient services.
“The NHS is facing a number of critical challenges, and connectivity and space derived technology has a vital role to play in supporting the delivery of a more preventative care system.”
- Companies:
- Innovate UK
- NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support
- Satellite Applications Catapult
