Innovation: the challenges and opportunities

The Clinical Services Journal reports on the challenges and opportunities that surround the development of innovative devices – for the device manufacturer and the NHS. A new innovation hub has recently opened to help innovators navigate their way through the medical devices development process.

As life expectancy increases greater demands are being placed on healthcare services to care for more patients who are living longer with chronic disease. The development of innovative technologies has an important role to play in helping to manage these conditions, in addition to making the healthcare process more effective and efficient to help bridge the growing NHS funding gap. Technology innovation also has a role to play in helping prevent disease, helping people to stay healthy and providing earlier warning of potential health problems. 

The Centre for Healthcare Technologies was recently launched by The University of Nottingham and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, to provide academics, clinicians and companies developing innovations for the healthcare sector the support of scientists, engineers and clinicians. The aim of the centre is to help manufacturers of medical devices to evaluate the cost effectiveness of a product and to ensure that designs correspond with clinical needs, as well as helping to enable and carry out user engagement studies. Importantly, the centre will also offer manufacturers help to navigate a path through both UK and international regulatory processes for medical devices.