‘Rapid uptake’ innovations ready for roll-out

Health Innovation North West Coast and fellow AHSNs across England will be helping to roll out innovations identified for rapid uptake by the Accelerated Access Collaborative.

Up to £2 million is being provided by the Government to give more patients access to seven innovative technology areas that were identified by the Accelerated Access Collaborative, a partnership of health and health tech organisations. Products were selected that improve patients’ lives but are not currently available to everyone who could benefit.

This first batch of ‘rapid uptake’ products includes a range of treatments for conditions such as cancer, heart disease and multiple sclerosis.

The aim is not only to help 500,000 patients to access new treatments, but also to provide cost savings to the NHS of £30 million, while helping to reinforce the UK’s position as a global leader in health innovation.

The products will be spread through the Innovation Agency and AHSN Network’s Innovation Exchanges, which match solutions to the needs of their local health and care systems.

Announced at the same time, are seven new NHS Test Beds to tackle some of the biggest opportunities and challenges in health and care by testing combinations of innovations in real world clinical settings.

This is the second wave of NHS Test Beds and once again the AHSNs will be providing support in the regions.

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock MP said: “The UK is a world leader in medical and health research and we want to make sure patients are the first to benefit from the tech revolution happening across the NHS.

“Every day, innovative new treatments are demonstrating the power technology has to save lives – and I want to make these opportunities available across the whole NHS.”

Innovation Agency Chief Executive Dr Liz Mear said: “The news of more support for the spread of innovations is a welcome boost and we are excited to be supporting these well-evidenced products across the North West Coast and nationally.”

Interim Executive Chair for Innovate UK, Ian Campbell said: “For every new set of health and care challenges, innovation needs to lead the way in finding great solutions that work for all.  Innovate UK is delighted to be supporting this important collaboration between NHS organisations and industry – testing, learning and improving in a real world environment.”

The rapid uptake products are:

• Heartflow - A non-invasive personalized cardiac test that reduces the need for unnecessary procedures

• Placental growth factor (PIG-F) based testing for suspected pre-eclampsia - tests for early diagnosis of pre-eclampsia in pregnant women, which if unmonitored, can cause serious complications for mother and baby.

• PCSK9 inhibitors for treatment of primary hypercholesterolaemia and mixed dyslipidaemia - Cost-effective drugs that significantly lower cholesterol.

• High sensitivity troponin tests for early rule out of myocardial infarction (acute) - Diagnostic tests that detect whether or not a patient is at risk or previously had a heart attack.

• Quantitative faecal immunochemical tests for colorectal cancer - Diagnostic tests that reduce referrals for patients with suspected colorectal cancer.

• Cladribine (Brand name: Mavenclad) for treating highly active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in adults - A drug for multiple sclerosis with a novel mode of action, high efficacy and a low treatment and monitoring burden

• Urolift for lower urinary tract symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

More information about the Test Beds programme can be found on the NHS England website.

https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/innovation/test-beds/