DoH pledges funding for healthcare problems

Up to four million pounds has been put forward as funding by the Department of Health (DoH), with two million each set to be used to develop solutions to two major problems facing British healthcare.

The DoH has expressed its hope that innovative and technological measures will be put forward by private companies to change people's attitude towards obesity or alcohol-related diseases.

Secondly, it invited businesses to develop a technique that encourages patients to take their medication as prescribed.

Between six to ten per cent of all hospital admission could be preventable if prescription medication was taken correctly by patients.

Sir David Nicholson, chief executive of the NHS, said: "These competitions provide vital funding for businesses to explore, develop and test new technology before it becomes commercially available."

Last month, the DoH suggested that GPs could soon prescribe apps to their patients that help those suffering from illnesses keep on top of their recovery using their smartphone.