A programme led by the University of Liverpool is expected to invest nearly £10 million in funding for a Civic HealthTech Innovation Zone (CHI-Zone), with a further £2.5m in funding expected from other sources including the university itself.
Based in Liverpool Science Park, the CHI-Zone will be developed as part of the 10-year Liverpool City Region Life Sciences Innovation Zone programme, aiming to bring in “up to £800m” of public and private investment and create “8,000 new skilled jobs”.
The programme plans to train the future workforce in a range of areas, particularly when it comes to health AI and to support the development of the trusted use of data and AI in health and social care. The university also notes a desire to create a “leading centre for developing and testing prototypes” as a way to build its global reputation and encourage foreign direct investment.
Further plans for the CHI-Zone include offering support to university researchers to help turn their innovations into successful businesses and creating a HealthTech Design Studio to facilitate research and innovation.
Professor Iain Buchan, W.H. Duncan chair in Public Health Systems, associate pro vice chancellor for innovation, and director of Civic Health Innovation Labs, said: “The Civic HealthTech Innovation Zone will spearhead the use of artificial intelligence and other data-driven technologies to improve healthcare, social care and wellness – while growing the region’s life sciences and digital economy, with and for our residents.”
Digital transformation for healthcare workers: the wider trend
Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust recently shared key updates on digital from across the trust, outlining key areas of focus for upcoming digital transformation and digital services. This included their approach towards the 10-Year Health Plan, shifting funding towards digital, tackling challenges for staff and for patients when using technology and their ideas for change in policy.
NHS Education for Scotland launched a new digital and data capability self-assessment tool for its workforce. It’s designed to help guide individuals through the Digital and Data Capability Framework, allowing them to “measure their own digital skills, knowledge, and behaviours”.
Digital Health and Care Wales shared a prior information notice for the procurement of a new audit solution, with a budget of up to £5 million. The aim of the audit solution is to “monitor user access to the NHS Wales single patient record” and to assess relevant national clinical applications and national repositories, flagging any “inappropriate access and use”.
In a recent interview, we spoke with digital strategy director at Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, Neill Crump, about the digital methods undertaken by the Dudley Group and what these mean in practice. He discussed how the trust has developed its teams from a digital perspective, with a focus on getting the basics right first and how this can help to create a “high-performing” workforce.
Read more on the ways digital transformation and strategies are helping to develop the future workforce in healthcare here.
