Become a test bed
Trusts and clinical commissioning groups across the region have the opportunity to take part in a new NHS England-funded programme for 2015 – an exciting experiment to pilot some testbeds in England by the end of 2015. We, at the SWAHSN, are supporting NHS England in finding people from our member bodies interested in taking part.
Background
The NHS Five Year Forward View www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/futurenhs/, published in October 2014, set out the intention to develop a small number of testbeds. These sites will evaluate the real world impact of new technologies offering both better care and better value for taxpayers, testing them together with innovations in how NHS services are delivered.
The testbed programme provides the opportunity to combine different technologies with innovations in how services are delivered in the NHS. For example – a new service delivery model for people with dementia that combines wearable devices linked into mobile or other digital technology, implemented alongside technology-enabled housing and a lower-cost nurse or allied health professional workforce model. There are three key stages in creating the testbeds:
1. A call for innovators to propose their innovations
2. A call to potential testbed sites to propose key priority areas where they feel they can work with innovators
3. Matchmaking events to bring testbed sites and innovators together.
The programme will support about five test beds within the NHS but this could be increased if a high number of test bed proposals demonstrate a high potential to improve healthcare outcomes at the same or lower overall cost. Testbed selection and designation will be completed in December 2015.
Criteria and how to apply
Potential testbed sites will need to demonstrate:
* strong relationships between all participating bodies
* infrastructure to support data sharing across all parties, with the NHS number as a unique identifier
* covering a population of sufficient size to test innovations at scale
* clinical leadership and buy-in to evaluating combinations of innovations in live settings
* a commitment to move at pace, with governance to support swift decision making and problem solving.
You must complete this form by 12 June if you wish to express interest in becoming a testbed site.
How to find out more
If you are interested in finding out more about this you can get more information by taking part in one of three Q&A teleconferences to provide further information for those interested in bidding to become test bed sites on 28 May, 1 June and 2 June (different times). More information and booking details here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nhs-test-beds-briefing-and-qa-conference-call-tickets-16900239070
An event targeted at innovators runs 21 May event in London is at Central Hall Westminster, Storey’s Gate, Westminster, London, SW1H 9NH – 2.30-6pm. Potential testbed sites can also go along if they wish to find out more about the innovations coming forward. You can register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/test-beds-innovator-briefing-event-tickets-16875519132
Alternatively, there is a webinar on 27 May, 6-7pm. You can book a place using this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nhs-test-beds-webinar-briefing-event-tickets-16900104668
You can find out more about testbeds here: http://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/innovation/test-beds/
