To help our clients push the boundaries of what is possible in healthcare, HD strive to foster effective collaboration on all projects. Senior Design Engineer, Will Morris, discusses how we as designers can collaborate with the NHS to improve medical device development.
In the United Kingdom, the National Health Service (NHS) serves as a cornerstone of the healthcare system, providing care to millions of citizens. The NHS has evolved to become an enormous organisation, being the country’s biggest employer and one of the largest employers globally by headcount. The amount of real-world medical insight that this one single organisation has is unparalleled. Collaboration between industry and the NHS has incredible potential to improve health outcomes for individuals and society as a whole. This blog explores how collaboration with the NHS can drive innovation in healthcare settings and delves into existing programs facilitating collaboration.
The design of healthcare products plays a pivotal role in shaping healthcare solutions. Putting patients and healthcare professionals at the forefront is key to ensuring solutions address real user needs and enhance usability, ultimately improving patient outcomes and user satisfaction.
Partnering with the NHS grants access to vast datasets and clinical expertise, enabling industry partners to develop solutions grounded in real-world evidence and clinical insights. Engaging with clinicians throughout the innovation and development process fosters collaboration and ensures that products align with clinical workflows, leading to seamless integration into healthcare practices. Being aware of local NHS facilities can provide great insight into typical clinical environments, ensuring safety, efficacy, and usability prior to significant development.
Many companies are increasingly focusing on digital health solutions, leveraging technologies such as artificial intelligence, telemedicine, and wearables to empower patients and streamline healthcare delivery. These new technologies can be night and day when compared to some archaic and highly manual processes currently employed, however they also come with significant barriers to entry in regards to training, technological competencies, data compatibility and system interoperability, safety and security and new process complexities requiring change management.
Enhancing awareness among industry partners about the opportunities for collaboration with the NHS is crucial to foster a culture of innovation and partnership within the design community. Securing funding for healthcare innovation remains a challenge for companies, necessitating collaboration with governmental agencies, private investors, and philanthropic organizations.
The NHS has an excellent innovation guide, developed by the Accelerated Access Collaborative, making it easier and faster for people to bring high-impact innovations to the NHS. The founders of MediSyne have developed a novel device for automating urine output monitoring for hospitalised patients. This exciting innovation could improve patient safety, result in carbon savings and provide other benefits.
SBRI Healthcare is an NHS England initiative, which funds the development of innovative solutions to healthcare challenges. They run competitions to find innovative products and services with the potential to improve patient outcomes.
Government-funded initiatives such as Innovate UK provide funding and support for collaborative projects between industry and the NHS, driving innovation in healthcare.
Collaborating with academic institutions facilitates research and development efforts, leveraging multidisciplinary expertise to address complex healthcare challenges. Many times, innovations and new technologies can even spin out of universities, such as Aston Vision Sciences, who are a collective of entrepreneurs and engineers developing patented ophthalmic solutions to enable transformative access to early eye care that will save millions of people from the burden of preventable blindness.
We are currently working with members within the NHS, and conducting several opportunity exploration programs. The level of real–world insight they bring is unmatched, and we’re deeply excited by the ideas and projects being developed.
Collaboration between industry and the NHS holds immense potential to drive innovation and improve healthcare delivery in the UK. By embracing human-centered design principles, leveraging clinical expertise, and embracing digital health technologies, product design companies can develop innovative solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and healthcare professionals. However, concerted efforts are needed to foster collaboration, streamline regulatory processes, and address funding challenges. Through existing programs and initiatives, stakeholders can work together to unlock the full potential of healthcare innovation, ultimately improving patient outcomes and advancing the future of healthcare in the UK.
Discover how collaboration benefitted HD’s EcoHale – Click Here!
Read more on our collaboration efforts – Click Here!
Senior Design Development Engineer & Business Development Manager
Will graduated from the University of Wolverhampton with a degree in Product Design. Prior to Haughton Design, Will worked for Renishaw, where he led the industrial design for the current and next generation metal Additive Manufacturing machines. Will has a strong interest in Design for Sustainability, and the Circular Economy, looking to reduce companies’ environmental impact and often teaches about design engineering at local STEM events. Outside of work, Will enjoys Formula 1, rugby and travelling with friends.
Get In Touch
Discover how Haughton Design's diverse team leverages their extensive experience to drive innovation in device development. Learn about our expertise and unique insights that ensure successful project...
Explore how commercial constraints influence innovation in businesses. Discover whether budget limits, regulations, and market pressures drive creativity or stifle progress in today's competitive land...
HD strive to foster effective collaboration on all projects to push boundaries in innovation. We discuss how collaboration with the NHS can provide unique insight....
Why do we trust the accuracy of digital devices more than their non-digital counterparts? HD discuss the 'why' and how this improves device development....
We discuss the whether the medical device industry can embrace paper as a viable alternative to plastic as we advance towards Net Zero....
What is the impact of emerging technologies on medical device and product development? Design Engineer, Dan Kirkham, discusses their applications....
We discuss transforming medical device development through the utilisation of interdisciplinary, and cross industry teams....
A pharmaceutical company approached HD to enhance the performance and improve the usability of a Dry Powder Inhaler within a short timeframe and, a tight budget. ...
Pharmapack 2024 was a captivating blend of innovation, collaboration, and foresight. Read our round up of the eco-focused event here....
2023's DDL event brought together industry experts in the field of respiratory health. Here we discuss the latest breakthroughs and innovations....
Should Human Factors as a standalone discipline be made redundant? Design Engineer, Elena, considers this for medical device development?...
Can we achieve the perfect balance of usability, sustainability & connectivity in medical device design? Design Engineer, Rob, considers how....
2023's PDA & PODD conferences provided valuable insight into the drug delivery industry. Here we discuss trends and hot topics from the conferences....
Ahead of the 20th PDA Universe of Pre-Filled Syringes and Injection Devices Conference, we cover where medical device innovations are expected to go....
As the world becomes increasingly connected and user needs constantly evolving, the design of safety critical IFU’s must keep up with this. Design Engineer, Rob, discusses the future of IFU’s, and...
With the speed at which the medical device world is changing, collaborative partnerships will be essential for success. HD discuss the benefits....
