Tackling the winter crisis with medtech

Geoff Twist, managing director of Roche Diagnostics (UK and Ireland) examines the findings of a report from think tank Demos, which looks at how technology can help address the annual winter crisis in the NHS. 

The NHS is facing unprecedented challenges, with an ageing population creating growing demand on a system that is already struggling to deliver services and meet targets. This is particularly challenging during the winter months, when attendances in A&E are high and bed availability remains low, leading to patients having to wait longer. In the past, the NHS has dealt with this situation by cancelling planned procedures. But this is not a long-term solution.

The challenge of ending this annual winter crisis is the focus of a major new report by Demos, Winter is coming. HealthTech is here. The paper was launched after the cross-party think tank spoke to healthcare professionals and HealthTech innovators, including me, about the opportunities and barriers in using new technology, such as in-vitro diagnostics, to help ease the burden.

The report concluded that technologically-enabled developments, such as rapid diagnostics, AI-assisted analysis and new models of remote or self-administered care, have the potential help to alleviate pressure and provide a solution to the NHS during winter months.

Point-of-care diagnostics is one of the areas highlighted by Demos as being able to significantly help the NHS better triage and manage patient demand. The report uses the example of the cobas Liat test, which can determine if a patient has flu within 20 minutes. An initial roll out of the test to two hospital trusts found that it can significantly reduce bed blocking and bay closures, saving money and leading to more effective treatment for patients. In one Trust, they found that out of 277 tests carried out, less than half came back positive, leading to more efficient use of side rooms and a much quicker diagnosis.

Similarly, implementing diagnostic tools in primary care can help tackle serious issues, such as antimicrobial resistance. For instance, CRP (C-reactive protein) tests can help GPs determine if a patient needs antibiotics within four minutes, ensuring the best treatment decisions are made as quickly as possible, improving patient flow and providing greater reassurance. Such technological innovations have great potential to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare, but only if they are adopted by the system.

The health secretary, Matt Hancock, has already pledged his commitment to helping innovation flourish in the NHS. This, coupled with his renewed commitment to prevent rather than cure, puts medical technology in a stronger position than ever to play a key role in helping the NHS.

But while we are on the right track, there is work that needs to be done. Demos concluded that both technologists and healthcare professionals need to be more open to collaboration and listening to one another to build greater understanding. The think tank also made a number of recommendations including that medical technology and diagnostics, evaluated by NICE, shown to be cost effective and of clinical benefit, should be given equal status to pharmaceutical products in their evaluation, recommendation and funding mandate.

It is now more important than ever for Trusts to utilise the latest medical technology to help alleviate pressures on the NHS, make life easier for healthcare professionals, and ensure that patients receive the right treatment at the right time, as quickly as possible. I hope the publication of this important report will help kick-start this conversation.