Talking NHS innovation

Doing business with the NHS can be challenging but a special gathering of experts in Lancashire looked to ease some of the pain and point the way to a successful outcome.

The Innovation Agency and Lancashire Business View brought together NHS decision-makers and business owners from across the county to the event at Brockholes. It examined the commercial opportunities and challenges of doing business with the NHS in front of an audience of more than 60.

And the clear message was that support and access to the healthcare market is available to help companies navigate the complex health service systems and structures. Finding the right decision-makers can be the key to starting to make a real difference to patient care. And, as delegates heard, there are “huge opportunities” for businesses prepared to put in the hard work to succeed.

The role of the Innovation Agency in the process was explained - its work in signposting, supporting, facilitating engagement and being “an honest broker and critical friend” was highlighted to the audience. The agency’s aim is to create commercial collaboration that brings about improvement in health care.

Part of the NHS, it is one of 15 Academic Health Service Networks set up to accelerate the spread of innovation, improve the health of local communities and generate economic growth. Delegates to the special summit were also given a valuable insight into NHS procurement and some of the inner-workings of the organisation.