NHS seeks new technologies to beat hospital bugs
The UK National Health Service (NHS) has set up a new programme designed to find new infection-fighting technologies proven in other industrial sectors.
Reducing healthcare acquired infections (HCAIs) is a top priority for the NHS. It is investing significant sums in improving infection prevention and control.
While the basic ways of reducing HCAIs are largely unchanged, new technologies and equipment can help to meet these goals more quickly.
The new 'Smart Solutions for HCAI' programme aims to bring forward new technologies generated by businesses in healthcare or other commercial sectors that are not currently in use, or have not been widely adopted, within the NHS.
These may include new types of medical equipment, but could equally be technologies currently used in non-healthcare applications, such as new types of packaging, coatings or textiles.
The programme is open to non-NHS organisations from any sector – aerospace, automotive, food and drink, engineering, pharmaceuticals or manufacturing. The scheme gives companies the opportunity to have products tested in hospitals and potentially a ‘fast track’ route to becoming a supplier to hospitals and healthcare organisations across the UK.
This national programme is being run by TrusTECH, the North West Innovation Hub, under the project leadership of Bryan Griffiths and on behalf of the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (PASA) and supported by the NHS National Innovation Centre .
Applications should be submitted online via the website (www.smartsolutionsforhcai.co.uk) before 26 September 2008.