UK government announces £30m investment to fund NHS medtech

The government has announced it will direct £30 million of investment into innovative medtech. The government has said it hopes the funding will help ease pressures on the NHS this winter.

Available to each region in England, ICSs can now bid for funding to invest in the latest technology that can help cut waiting lists, speed up diagnosis and deliver new and improved ways to treat patients.

Depending on local needs, the government suggested that ICSs could use the funding to expand virtual wards, wearable medical devices and digital 3D and other imaging technology to support the NHS to detect and treat cancer and other serious illnesses earlier.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Steve Barclay, said: “It is vital that clinicians have access to the latest technology to save staff time, deliver high-quality care and help cut waiting lists – one of the government’s top 5 priorities.

“This investment will see the latest tech innovations rolled out across the NHS. From virtual ward beds to wearable medical devices, patients will be better supported, and we will ease pressures on hospitals this winter.

“We’re preparing for this winter earlier than ever before, including delivering thousands more hospital beds and hundreds of new ambulances.”

Earlier this year, the government published its medical technology strategy, which set out steps to ensure patients can access safe, effective and innovative technology through the NHS.

In addition to this £30 million boost in funding, the government also launched a £21 million artificial intelligence (AI) diagnostics fund, which aims to improve access to the latest AI technology to diagnose and treat patients more quickly.