He launched the NHS Innovation Challenge Prizes scheme to give awards for achievement of specific challenges, ranging from significant improvements in delivery to major clinical breakthroughs.
The value of the awards will vary and reflect the nature of the challenge and the benefit of the innovation to the NHS and its patients.
The first challenges are:
- Earlier cancer diagnosis,
- Increasing independence for those with kidney failure,
- Better management of pregnancy,
- The reduction of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus and/or Escherichia coli bacteraemias across a health economy,
- Medicines – reducing waste, increasing benefits,
- Ensuring that people seeking urgent and emergency care receive the best care at their first attendance, as well as,
- Reducing avoidable attendances at GP surgeries and other primary care settings.
A panel made up of leading medical scientists, academics, industry experts and innovators will judge applications and recommend which awards should be made.
