Investment in innovation for GP services

SBRI Healthcare has announced the latest awards in the NHS England funded initiative to develop innovative products that address unmet health needs. A total of 22 companies share in the £2.1 million investment aimed at developing and commercialising novel technologies with the potential to revolutionise GP services.

There were three main areas considered to be challenging that have been addressed by these new technologies. The winning innovations include a device that measures novel biomarkers in a patient’s breath to immediately distinguish viral from a bacterial respiratory tract infection and a technology that allows for automatic vital sign measurement.

“There are few areas of our daily lives that remain untouched by technological advancement,” said Dr Liz Mear, chair of the Academic Health Science Network (AHSN). “Through the SBRI Healthcare programme, the AHSN Network is working with industry partners to develop solutions that will help deliver high quality GP services to a growing and ageing population, and ensure patients across the country benefit from new and innovative technologies.”

“General practice has always been a trail blazer for adopting new innovations in our daily practice. At a time when our profession is under intense resource and workforce pressures, it is important that we continue to encourage and support new ideas that can benefit the care we deliver to patients, and make life that little bit easier for healthcare professionals right across the NHS,” added Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chair of the Royal College of GPs.

SBRI Healthcare is an NHS England initiative, led by the AHSNs, that is focused on promoting UK economic growth through innovation and best practice across the NHS.