NHS Supply Chain is seeking to promote innovation in the NHS by “scoring” new products that have been identified as delivering value to Trusts, coupled with significant benefits for patients.
NHS Supply Chain has compiled a list of its “Top 10 innovations of 2009” – from solutions designed to combat healthcareassociated infections (HCAIs), to a novel device aimed at helping to save premature babies’ lives. All are considered to share one attribute in common – they all deliver “true value to the NHS”. “Innovation is vital to the NHS,” said Emma Tandy from NHS Supply Chain. “It is key in developing and improving processes within Trusts for the benefit of staff and patients alike. Delivering a new product from bench to bedside can often take anywhere between three and five years. By working collaboratively with the NHS National Innovation Centre (NIC), we are recognising innovation and supporting suppliers to bring their innovative products to market.”
NHS Supply Chain has introduced a new scheme to support the adoption of pioneering solutions in the health service, called the “Innovation Scorecard”, which provides a central hub for all suppliers wishing to register new products for potential use within the NHS. It enables NHS Supply Chain to offer pilot contracts to suppliers and deliver value and innovation to Trusts. To ensure that prospective products deliver the best value to the NHS, clinical feedback is obtained via NHS Supply Chain’s “Task Force Network” during the evaluation process. Emma Tandy continued: “To date, we have received 19 new innovation submissions. All are in different areas and are at varying stages of assessment. Some will be within our remit, some will not – but if we are unable to help, we will advise the supplier to talk directly to the NIC or recommend them to other supporting organisations. “Our definition of innovation is a product that is brand new to the NHS, or an improved product that can demonstrate significant benefits for the NHS in terms of value, efficiency or patient care. Products that fit these criteria are ideal for consideration through the new Innovation Scorecard process.” The NHS Supply Chain’s “Top Ten innovations for 2009” include the following:
Reducing cost of ligation
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