News
Free evaluation advice
Our Evaluation and Insights team are offering one-hour ‘Evaluation Surgery’ consultation slots to SMEs who have a connection to the North West Coast and would like to strengthen their proposition using real world evaluation. Our experts can advise on the various strategies and approaches available to you. The surgeries are first-come, first-served. Email insights@healthinnovationnwc.nhs.uk with your interest.
Smarter NHS buying: a practical guide for SMEs and buyers
A new GOV.UK guide sets out clear, actionable steps to help SMEs work with the NHS, and for NHS/wider health‑sector buyers to design SME‑friendly procurements. It explains why SMEs matter, how to navigate NHS structures, and how buyers can reduce barriers in line with the Procurement Act 2023 and NHS England’s SME action plan. Read the guidance.
Searching for LCR Tech Climbers 2026
Deadline tomorrow! Tech Climbers has opened entries and nominations in the Liverpool City Region for its 2026 list, spotlighting high‑growth, product‑led innovators. With the region’s innovation profile rising, backed by a new Growth Plan and recognition as Europe’s third capital of innovation, this is a chance for founders to gain visibility, investor attention and community support. Learn more.
Fairer, faster access to HealthTech under new national programme
The new National Health Tech Access Programme (formerly the Rules Based Pathway) is a joint initiative from NICE, the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England, MHRA and the Office for Life Sciences. It will expand NICE’s Technology Appraisals programme to include health technologies, meaning that, similar to medicines, a small number of high‑impact technologies will be approved for reimbursement and made available consistently across the entire NHS. Read more.
LYVA Labs joins iiCON as Core Consortium Partner
Liverpool City Region’s LYVA Labs has joined the Infection Innovation Consortium (iiCON) as a core partner, deepening collaboration to support SMEs, strengthen the regional innovation ecosystem and accelerate the spin‑out/commercialisation of infection‑innovation assets alongside partners such as Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Evotec, LifeArc and Unilever. Learn more.
DTAC refresh: simpler NHS assurance for digital health tech
NHS England has updated the Digital Technology Assessment Criteria (DTAC), cutting questions by 25 per cent, clarifying scope (now aligned to NICE, focused on software‑based DHTs) and retiring the old form from 6 April 2026. DTAC remains the baseline for clinical safety, data protection, security, interoperability, and usability/accessibility when adopting digital tools across the NHS and adult social care. Full details.
Alder Hey and Hartree Centre use AI to tackle rota challenges
STFC Hartree Centre and Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust are co‑developing an AI‑driven scheduling system to generate balanced, reviewable rotas, reducing clinician admin, supporting wellbeing and improving operational resilience. Designed with clinicians, the tool replaces manual spreadsheets with a configurable, human‑in‑the‑loop interface. Learn more.
Adopting ambient scribing in care settings
NHS England’s Digitising the Frontline guidance explains how ambient voice technologies (AVT), also called AI/ambient scribes, can increase patient interaction time and shorten appointments, and points to a national self‑certified supplier registry to speed up local assurance. Applications for suppliers are open and the list is updated periodically. Also, in the following blog, Health Innovation Network leaders outline how AVT can cut admin load and improve documentation accuracy by securely capturing consultations and drafting structured notes. However they urge careful governance. Read more. If you would like to talk to our team about AVT being used in the North West, please get in touch at info.ia@healthinnovationnwc.nhs.uk.
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