Integrated Care Systems is now opening applications for a share of £30 million to deploy innovative technology. Effective use of the latest medical technologies can help reduce waiting lists, potentially speed up diagnosis and improve patient care. Technology could include virtual services to help care for patients at home or wearables to monitor chronic conditions remotely – easing winter pressures and supporting the workforce.
Patients across the country will benefit from a £30 million government investment in advanced medical technology (medtech), which will ease pressure on the NHS this winter and could include an expansion 3D testing to speed up cancer testing and new logistics solutions such as the use of drones. Available in every part of England, ICS – organizations that come together in local areas to provide shared health and social care services – can now bid for funding to invest on the latest technologies that can help reduce waiting lists, speed up diagnosis and provide new approaches. and improve patient treatment.
Depending on local need, CNS could use funding to expand virtual services, allowing more patients to get the care they need at home, freeing up hospital beds. More than 9,800 virtual hospital beds have been created and the NHS is on track to meet its target and deliver 10,000 beds before winter. CNSs can also invest in wearable medical devices for patients to use at home, to aid in the diagnosis and management of many chronic diseases: these devices can monitor vital signs such as blood oxygen levels, heart rate and blood pressure. Additionally, investment in digital 3D and other imaging technologies could enhance diagnostic testing, helping the NHS to detect and treat cancer and other serious diseases earlier.
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 reduce waiting lists – one of five priorities top government. This investment will enable the latest technological innovations to be rolled out across the NHS. From virtual hospital beds to mobile medical devices, patients will be better supported and we will reduce the pressure on hospitals this winter.
We are preparing for this winter earlier than ever, including providing thousands of additional hospital beds and hundreds of new ambulances. Acting National Director for NHS Transformation Dr Vin Diwakar said: The NHS’s global capacity to adopt new technologies has enabled more than 210,000 patients to be treated at home through the roll-out of virtual services, and this new funding will enable the health service to adopt More innovations to improve patient care and reduce pressure. across wider services.
Local areas of the NHS, known as integrated care systems, can now submit bids to the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England to access funding to deploy the technology. Earlier this year, the Government published its Health Technology Strategy, which sets out measures to ensure patients can access safe, effective and innovative technology through the NHS. The fund builds on the £21m Artificial Intelligence (AI) Diagnostics Fund, which aims to improve access to the latest AI technologies to diagnose and treat patients faster.
NHS trusts have been invited to bid for funding to accelerate the deployment of the most promising AI imaging and decision support tools to help diagnose patients with diseases such as cancer, stroke and heart disease faster. The new funding adds to a range of other measures being taken by the Government to support the NHS this winter. In September, a further £200m was invested in the health service to build resilience and help patients get the care they need as quickly as possible over the coming months.
The Emergency and Urgent Care Recovery Plan, announced in January, also commits to providing an additional 5,000 fully staffed permanent hospital beds, 10,000 virtual hospital beds and 800 new, supported ambulances. 1 billion pounds. Notes to editors The NHS Innovation Service has been helping the NHS find the best innovations and providing innovators with the resources, tools and support they need to increase the chances of their product or idea being adopted by the NHS .
Applications are open and it is expected to roll out the project this financial year, allowing patients to benefit as quickly as possible.