NHS Scotland is today launching a new initiative with the aim to speed-up the development, assessment and roll-out of innovations across its health and care settings.
Through its Accelerated National Innovation Adoption pathway, the initiative is designed to assess, prioritise and support innovations to scale, in an approach termed ‘Once for Scotland’.
NHS Scotland said that the programme will take a value-focused pathway, prioritising the ‘best innovations’ to improve patient outcomes and experience, improve staff experience and demonstrate that they are financially and environmentally sustainable.
The programme is set to cultivate ‘conditions for success’, with NHS Scotland noting that workforce, training, infrastructure and clinical leadership are a key part of the initiative. The programme will also ensure that there is sufficient clinical support, that innovations are ready for adoption, and that these innovations can roll out nationally.
Innovations currently being evaluated on the pathway include digital dermatology and heart failure pathways, chest x-ray artificial intelligence and a theatre scheduling tool.
Heath Secretary Humza Yousaf MSP said: “The Accelerated National Innovation Adoption pathway brings together expertise from across NHS Scotland, academia and industry to accelerate the adoption of technological innovations which will help renew and transform our healthcare services.
“Using this approach to work collaboratively means we can identify, triage, develop and deliver transformative innovations at scale to benefit patients across NHS Scotland.
“This will be targeted at supporting NHS recovery alongside improved life expectancy, faster diagnosis, improved quality of life and reduced waiting times.”
The pathway is delivered by the Accelerated National Innovation Adoption Collaborative, which includes the National Centre for Sustainable Delivery, Digital Health and Care Scotland, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, NHS Education for Scotland, NHS National Services Scotland, Public Health Scotland and the Scottish Health and Industry Partnership.
The National Centre for Sustainable Delivery at NHS Golden Jubilee is responsible for overall coordination, governance and programme management of the pathway.
