Barts Health Forum calls for a faster route to NHS innovation adoption
Healthcare innovations that have already been assessed and adopted by one NHS organisation could be rolled out more quickly across London under an innovation "passporting" approach discussed at a recent Barts Health Forum roundtable.
The discussion brought together leaders from the NHS, industry, and the charitable sector to explore how the NHS could contribute to economic growth, including the acceleration of proven innovations. This would make it easier for companies to scale successful technologies across the health service, and for patients to benefit from innovations faster.
Participants highlighted a longstanding challenge facing innovators. Even when a technology has demonstrated safety, effectiveness and operational value in one NHS trust, companies are often required to repeat similar approval, assurance and procurement processes when introducing it elsewhere. Attendees argued that this duplication increases costs and slows adoption, delaying patients' access to beneficial new technologies.
A key focus of the discussion was innovation passporting, whereby relevant assessments and approvals could be recognised across multiple NHS organisations. Participants said this could create a clearer route for innovators to scale successful products while giving NHS organisations greater confidence to adopt proven solutions.
While the concept is not new, attendees acknowledged that progress has been slow. Differences in local governance processes, organisational autonomy and a reluctance to rely on decisions made elsewhere have all limited adoption. Participants noted that overcoming these barriers will require stronger collaboration, shared standards and greater trust across the NHS.
Many felt that London is particularly well placed to lead this agenda, given its concentration of major NHS providers, academic institutions and life sciences organisations. The discussion also highlighted the emerging Barts Life Sciences Cluster around the Royal London Hospital as a potential hub for collaboration between clinicians, researchers and industry.
Alongside passporting, the roundtable identified procurement reform as another priority. Participants argued that purchasing decisions should consider the value an innovation creates across an entire patient pathway, rather than focusing solely on the upfront cost of a product or service.
The conversation forms part of Barts Health's wider work to bring together healthcare, industry and policy leaders to address barriers to innovation adoption. Through initiatives such as the Barts Health Forum and the Barts Life Sciences Cluster, the Trust is helping to shape discussions on how successful innovations can be spread more quickly across the NHS.
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