Theme 4 will work with the clinical cluster to design bespoke and appropriate studies, to demonstrate clinical and cost effectiveness of novel HealthTech.
For a novel technology to be used in clinical practice it needs to have sufficient evidence that it can work in the appropriate setting and whether it can improve patient care, diagnosis, outcomes, save money, or improve services.
Studies within Theme 4 focus on generating the evidence required for the technology to receive appropriate regulatory approval ahead of adoption into the health and care system. Taking the problems and solutions drawn up by Theme 3, Theme 4 will design studies targeted at gathering evidence of the solutions adequately addressing the problems, collecting the best quality, relevant data, in the most efficient way.
Recognising that the NHS aims to be net zero by 2040, a selection of studies will also focus on how novel HealthTech could help to reduce carbon footprint.
Once evidence of clinical and cost effectiveness has been collected in a purpose-designed study, Theme 4 will also look at implementation of the novel technology into practice. Working with the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Greater Manchester (NIHR ARC GM), Theme 4 will use a combination of behaviour change methodologies and implementation science, to establish the barriers and facilitating factors (for example usability, accessibility, acceptance among staff and patients, integration into the care pathway or IT systems) that influence the roll-out of the novel technology being successfully implemented in the NHS.
Currently it can take many years to get a new health technology into the NHS; Theme 4 aims to streamline this process, ensuring that technologies have the best chance of getting to market, and becoming adopted into the NHS. The ultimate aim is to benefit patients and the public, and share the knowledge gained through implementation with patients, clinicians, and the public along the way.
