Martin Gray – Six things I learned from the DigitalHealth.London Accelerator interviews

Martin Gray, CCIO at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, was invited to interview 64 digital health companies to join the 2016 Cohort. Here is what he wrote in his blog about six things he learned from the interviews. 

1. Over the last few weeks I have had the privilege to sit on the selection panel for the DigitalHealth.London Accelerator. I have learned what an “angel investor” is and now fully understand what an “SME” is (small to medium sized enterprise).

2. I have been struck by the sheer grit and determination of digital health companies as they tackle developing technological solutions. One of the most pressing problems of our time is how to provide accessible healthcare to the masses in the face of increasing demand and a flat-lining economy.

3. During the interviews we learned about an exciting range of innovative solutions these companies are working hard to develop, including:

• diagnostic tools harnessing existing technology and new innovative solutions
• apps designed to empower patients to take ownership of their care pathway
• various methods of streamlining the transfer of information between patients and providers
• technology that is improving resources that care providers and services rely on.

4. The SMEs that I met were genuinely trying to help with the very real problems that the UK health system faces. The common experience of all the SMEs was the challenge of breaking into the monolith that is the NHS from research, development and procurement perspectives.

5. I can see how SMEs would benefit from partnering with those of us in clinical informatics roles to understand where there is a clinical or organisational need. This also enables us to identify what is technologically possible.

6. The DigitalHealth.London Accelerator has the potential to unlock this access to benefit people in London, the wider NHS and the economy. Everybody has the potential to be a winner.