Genetic advances to benefit NHS

The NHS must prepare for significant advances in genetic research that will have an effect on every area of medicine, according to the Foundation for Genomics and Population Health. New technology could soon change the type of care available for cancer and rare conditions, as...<<Read More>>

First embryonic stem cell trial in UK

First human embryonic stem cell trial in Europe is set to take place in the UK. Medics will inject retinal cells into the eyes of 12 patients with an incurable disease, Stargardt’s macular dystrophy, which causes progressive sight loss. The disease develops in childhood and affects around one in 10,000 people...<<Read More>>

Brain stem cells trials successful

The world’s first clinical trial of brain stem cells to treat strokes has been deemed safe enough to continue on to further testing. The test subjects showed no adverse effects, an independent assessment concluded. The trial is being led by Professor Keith Muir from Glasgow...<<Read More>>

Global health research register launched

A global register to improve the transparency of health research has been launched by the Government. PROSPERO is a free, publicly-accessible online facility that registers systematic reviews for research about health and social care from across...<<Read More>>

UK brain surgery first carried out in Bristol

A UK first was carried out at a private hospital in Bristol, where an expert has managed to repair torn tissue around a women’s spinal nerve. Professor Hugh Coakham, who carried out the surgery, said: “For years the woman has suffered terrible and debilitating headaches and nausea...

Robots used to save people’s hearing

The Institution of Mechanical Engineering has announced that it will be show casing the world’s first intelligent micro drill which has the capacity to save some people’s hearing. The drill can intelligently distinguish between different types of tissues, identify the exact point of perforation...

There’s still time!

Even with 18 weeks looming, it’s not too late to apply service transformation approaches to the challenge

So, two months into the year, how is your New Year’s resolution holding up? Was its something you’ve been meaning to do for ages? Did it start well? Is it still going well?...

Commissioning sustainable change: shaping the NHS for the future

American author Marilyn Ferguson once observed that: “It’s not so much that we're afraid of change or so in love with the old ways, but it's that place in between that we fear… It's like being between trapezes.” In many ways, the NHS is between trapezes, says Julia R A Taylor, No Delays priority programme director at the NHS Institute for Innovation & Improvement...

Bringing care closer to home

The NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement has developed a series of products to help health care leaders look at how to deliver effective care in or near patient’s homes, says Martin Samuel, the Institute’s head of the Care Outside Hospital Priority programme...

Challenges can be overcome through improvement and innovation

Bernard Crump, chief executive of the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement, on the challenges facing the NHS and the steps being taken by the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement to help overcome them...

Land ahoy!

The recent announcement by Lord Darzi of a £100m health innovation initiative to be jointly funded by the Department of Health and the Wellcome Trust heralds a new dimension to accelerate the delivery of innovative technologies into the NHS, says Dr Maire Smith...

Innovation awards deliver new life to NHS

Revolutionary birthing equipment, life saving software and inspiring educational programmes were all honoured at Medipex’s annual NHS Innovation awards last week; highlighting the c linicians in the region who are im proving the NHS through their forward-thinking products and services.

The event, attended by over 160 people from across Yorkshire and the UK, took place at Weetwood Hall in Leeds and awarded candidates in four categories...

Real appetite for increased integration in health and social care 

A new joint report from the NHS Confederation and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) shows that changes to the commissioning of health services could encourage more bottom up collaboration of health and social care

A report launched at the NHS Confederation’s annual conference says proposed changes to the commissioning of health...

New expert partnership to save costs and improve quality in NHS

A new business partnership that offers streamlined innovation services to improve quality of care and reduce costs in healthcare has been created; fast tracking successful innovations across the NHS and international markets.

The new partnership - The Healthcare Innovation Alliance – was launched at the NHS Confederation conference and has been formed by six leading innovation organisations who have agreed to share their expertise and resources. This combined expertise will speed up the development...