Fast-track innovation scheme will benefit patients
A new Accelerated National Innovation Adoption (ANIA) pathway will speed up the process of bringing innovative ideas to Scottish patients.
Launched at the NHS Scotland Event in June, ANIA will lead robust value assessment to help prioritise innovations that will improve patient outcomes and experience, improve staff experience and which are both financially and environmentally sustainable.
Innovations currently under evaluation include digital dermatology and heart failure pathways, chest x-ray artificial intelligence and a theatre scheduling tool.
How the ANIA pathway works
On submission or referral high impact innovations will progress along the pathway if they meet the ANIA criteria:
- A clear problem statement linked and aligned with national policy and clinical need.
- Clear evidence of impact and value – with significant transformational potential, including previous testing within NHSScotland.
- Agreement from the relevant clinical community that this is a national priority.
Innovation programmes that progress through the various stage gates will move to the development of a Value Case. This will clearly articulate the value proposition to NHS Scotland and include the associated benefits and costs for national adoption.
Following approval, the innovation will proceed to full-scale national adoption and eventual handover to ‘business as usual’ clinical services.
NHS Golden Jubilee’s National Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) coordinates the ANIA pathway which will:
- Identify, assess and implement technological innovations on a Once for Scotland basis.
- Use the range of skills available across NHSScotland to quickly and safely roll out these innovations nationally, helping more patients to be seen faster.
- Support ANIA partners to contribute their expertise to move high impact innovations along the ANIA pathway at an accelerated pace.
- Enable joint planning with territorial NHS Boards for accelerated adoption and implementation of innovations and associated service change, providing equal access to patients across Scotland.
- Ensure only the highest impact, evidence-based innovations that align to Scottish Government priorities are adopted nationally.
Heath Secretary Humza Yousaf MSP said:
“The Accelerated National Innovation Adoption (ANIA) Pathway brings together expertise from across NHS Scotland, academia and industry to accelerate the adoption of technological innovations which will help renew and transform our healthcare services.
“Using this approach to work collaboratively means we can identify, triage, develop and deliver transformative innovations at scale to benefit patients across NHS Scotland.
“This will be targeted as supporting NHS recovery alongside improved life expectancy, faster diagnosis, improved quality of life and reduced waiting times.”
The ANIA Collaborative delivers the ANIA pathway. Members include the National Centre for Sustainable Delivery, Digital Health and Care Scotland, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, NHS Education for Scotland, NHS National Services Scotland, Public Health Scotland and the Scottish Health and Industry Partnership.
July, 28 2022