Medical Technology Accelerates

It has been announced that the Chairman of Guys and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, Sir Hugh Taylor, will be reviewing the speed at which medical technology innovation, such as new therapeutic technologies and digital devices, get to families.

The review forms part of a government bid to increase research and innovation in health and social care, by the Department of Health and the Office for Life Sciences. Sir Taylor will be supported by an expert advisory group headed by Professor Sir John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford University

The government want to ensure that the UK is one of the fastest places in the world to develop and adopt new medical innovations. The current timeframe for developing a new drug from research through to availability is, on average, ten years and the cost anything up to £1 billion. Exploring opportunities for getting innovative medicines and devices from the lab to patients more quickly and safely, should help to stimulate economic growth across the UK via new jobs and investments, in turn strengthening the NHS.

Sir Hugh Taylor said:

“NHS patients and their families deserve the quickest access possible to cost-effective new medical innovations, so it is a real privilege to be asked to lead this important review. By looking across the whole healthcare system I hope that we will be able to identify ways in which the latest advances in medicines and technologies can get from the lab to patients as quickly and safely as possible.

This is a vital piece of work which has the potential to have a positive impact not only on the NHS and patients but also our world leading science and research base.”

The review will look at developing recommendations for ensuring that new and innovative medical research, such as that funded by the Wellcome Trust, will quickly make its way into NHS hospitals where it can improve patient health.

An example of work already being undertaken is the development of a programme which allows students, trainees and qualified doctors to practice surgical techniques on 3D models. Because of the visual representation that 3D modelling allows, this technique could also be used to help patients understand their diagnosis and treatment.

All three of the main political parties have endorsed the review, so that the findings are given the attention they deserve, however the next government is composed. Medication Technology Innovation Accelerates and patients should start to benefit quicker from this with government support.