Health and social care secretary Matt Hancock said better tech should be a strategic focus for the NHS.
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Speaking at the inaugural Parliament & HealthTech event hosted by the Health Tech Alliance at Portcullis House in Westminster, Hancock once again reiterated his desire for innovative technology to be adopted by the health service.
Hancock said: “Those who say that tech is not a priority for the NHS, those who think we should only invest in our short-term operational needs, never in long-term progress; those who want us to spend every last penny of the extra £33.9 billion a year on more people and more buildings; I say that is wrong.
“I want to set out the future for technology in the NHS and why the techno-pessimists are wrong. Because for any organisation to be the best it possibly can be, rejecting the best possible technology is a mistake.
“Better technology is vital to have and embracing it is the only way to make the NHS sustainable over the long term. If you’re not convinced, then visit any hospital that lacks an electronic patient record system.”
Hancock also made announcements regarding the next stage of development surrounding the NHS AI lab, including supporting a £140 million AI award designed to speed up testing and adoption of the most promising technology, covering all stages of the product development cycle. The call for applications will run twice a year through open competition through the Accelerated Access Collaborative (AAC) – and will focus on screening, diagnosis, clinical decisions and system efficiency.
“The AI lab is a crucial tool in NHSX’s armoury, putting the world’s best technology in the hands of NHS clinicians and managers all so we can bring the NHS into the 21st Century.”
He said for new technologies to be adopted easily by the health service, that there has to be some leadership, saying there is no excuse for a digital technology leader to not be part of every NHS board, and has directed NHSX to ‘seriously step up’ its digital workforce programme.
“When I talk about leadership, I don’t just mean people with the name ‘information’ on their name badge. Each CEO needs to comfortable and confident in leading digital transformation. Every board needs to know what question to ask and hold their CEO to account. Every medical director and chief nurse need to know how technology is going to transform what their team does, and lead that adoption.”
The event also heard two panel sessions on the future of healthtech within the NHS, and how to drive the uptake of vital innovation.
Nicholas Lansman, founder of the Health Tech Alliance, introduced the organisation as one that wants to complement the existing work from trade bodies, and act as a catalyst for collaboration.
Also at the event, Dr Sam Roberts, chief executive of the AAC explained some of the roles it can provide to innovators in businesses looking to develop their products – including access to funding such as the MedTech Funding Mandate and how AHSN’s can work with them.
Other aspects covered included the desire for behavioural change when it comes to adopting new technologies, the increasing digitisation of the workforce and engagement needed with the end user.