Towards a Digital Future in the NHS – Impact Report 2019

This month marks the launch of DigitalHealth.London’s Impact Report 2019 – Towards a Digital Future in the NHS – showcasing the successes achieved over the last year, and beyond. DigitaHealth.London works across the NHS, innovators and health and care stakeholders to turn digital innovations into improvements in the experience and outcomes for patients.

In years one and two the focus was on creating an active digital health market in London by removing some of the challenges that were holding innovators back from thriving within the health and care market. In its third year, DigitalHealth.London grew in geographical reach, beyond the boundaries of London, to assist four regions outside London to run their own Accelerators.

The Report highlights the programmes, activities and connections delivered under the priority themes: Bridging the Skills Gap, Building an Innovation-friendly Environment and Bringing Communities Together.  Achievements include:

NHS Digital Pioneer Fellowship – empowering and teaching clinical and non-clinical managers and frontline staff how to navigate projects, governance, and political processes to bring about real, much–needed change. In its first year, there was 23 NHS Digital Pioneers, who received 828 hours of classroom support, with the help of 45 mentors and specialist experts, leading to 12 digital solutions being adopted. 

DigitalHealth.London Accelerator – working with 20-30 high potential start-ups and SMEs a year, to support them in developing and deploying solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing the NHS. Accelerator companies have raised over £64 million of investment since August 2016, secured 32 research collaborations, and provided 22.2 million opportunities for patients to benefit from new technologies.

Digital Outpatients programme – working with NHS Improvement and the 15 Academic Health Science Networks, DigitalHealth.London helped organisations to take advantage of digital technology to improve the outpatient experience for both patients and medical staff. At the time of going to press, 383 change agents across 122 Trusts had been exposed to over 51 digital health partners carefully selected digital industry partners operating in the outpatient space. 

The UK-Israel Dangoor Health Initiative – in collaboration with the UK Israel Tech Hub, Dangoor Education and IBM Alpha Zone, this programme aims to connect Israeli start-ups in the digital health field with the NHS in the UK. Three companies in cohort 1: Day Two, Orpheus Medical and Neurotech Solutions, were selected for this 24 week deep immersion programme, hosted in Israel, with a self-funded business trip to the UK for bespoke insight and introductions by DigitalHealth.London.

Early-Stage Opportunity Fund – partnering with the digital health venture specialists to deliver a funding call for early-stage digital health companies, helping to bridge the gap between the entrepreneur and the investor, reducing risk on both sides. The Call resulted in nearly 300 applications and investment of nearly £3 million from RYSE Asset Management LLP and other investors into two companies, Skin Analytics and LiveSmart. 

To read the Impact Report click here and get in touch at info@digitalhealth.london if you would like to know more about how DigitalHealth.London could support you. 

DigitalHealth.London (DH.L) is a partnership comprising MedCity, and London’s three Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs) – UCLPartners, Imperial College Health Partners, and the Health Innovation Network. It is supported by NHS England (London) and the Mayor’s Office. The DigitalHealth.London Accelerator is supported by the additional partner, CW+, and is part-funded through the European Regional Development Fund.