The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has launched an Innovation Catalyst pilot for innovations that could support the neighbourhood health service. The initiative is open to applications from NHS and social care service providers, universities, research institutes, SMEs, and not-for-profit organisations, with projects needing to involve collaboration […]
News
Norfolk and Suffolk ICB notes strategic commissioning and neighbourhood health plans
Norfolk and Suffolk ICB has addressed future plans for strategic commissioning and neighbourhood health, in a written response to NHS chief executive Jim Mackey’s questions to ICBs around planning and priorities for 2026/27. The ICB recognises “many important local successes” over the last year, with plans to combine “the best […]
£8 million NIHR funding for six AI and digital innovations
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has awarded £8 million to six innovations using AI and digital to speed up diagnosis and improve patient care. Innovations granted a share of the funding include SAMURAI-CT, an AI tool designed to detect “serious findings” from head CT scans with […]
Sir James Mackey at NHS Confed Expo on neighbourhoods, funding and collaboration
In a speech at the June 2026 NHS Confed Expo, NHS CEO Sir James Mackey discussed progress over the last year and the need to modernise NHS services to meet what people encounter elsewhere in their day-to-day lives. Mackey talked about the “huge amount” achieved over the last year through […]
NHS England outlines up to £110 million for children’s digital health services
NHS England has published a preliminary market engagement notice with a total value of up to £110 million, hoping to inform the future of children’s digital health services. The engagement aims to determine whether the market can meet the needs and requirements of the programme, to understand an appropriate budget […]
NHS Blood and Transplant plans £68 million procurements
NHS Blood and Transplant is committing £68 million to advancing its assessment and recovery (ARCs) programme through four separate procurements, seeking to increase organ utilisation and adoption of machine perfusion technology. £20 million will be awarded to up to three clinical delivery partners to act as centres of excellence and […]
MHRA to launch AI sandbox for medicines development and testing
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has announced plans to launch a regulatory AI sandbox with the aim to explore how artificial intelligence can support medicines development and safety. The sandbox, funded by the Regulatory Innovation Office, will enable AI tools to be tested that have the potential to […]
Study highlights potential for digitally-enabled support for people with MSK conditions
A study into the impact of a digital exercise programme designed to support adults managing MSK problems has found that it provides similar outcomes to face-to-face physiotherapy. The platform, Good Boost, provides digital personalised therapeutic exercises to support those living with long-term conditions. Data from 40,000 exercise sessions highlighted that […]
Three projects awarded €3,788,000 in EU initiative to “make health data usable”
The European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency has announced three winners following an open call for innovative projects looking to make health data “usable, interoperable, and clinically meaningful across fragmented systems”. The Regional Innovation Valley project UNITE is funded by the EU to further European digital health innovation and […]
Government announces £20 million investment into digital referrals from high street optometrists to secondary care
The Department of Health and Social Care has announced a £20 million investment to roll out e-referrals to all optical practices with NHS contracts in England, to support direct referrals to secondary services including NHS Online when it launches in 2027. DHSC has shared hopes that this will allow “millions” […]
