New fund launched for NHS digital innovations

The government has announced the launch of the Information Sharing Challenge Fund, a new scheme that will encourage the development of new digital services for the NHS.

Up to 99,000 pounds will be made available for NHS organisations that come up with new technology that can help to improve care and facilitate the sharing of information across the health service.

Bodies can bid for funding if they can demonstrate that their ideas offer value for money and can be easily adopted by other organisations as part of the NHS Interoperability Toolkit.

Currently, innovative IT projects such as maternity digital capture and telehealth are being piloted by NHS divisions, using tablet PCs, digital pens and remote patient monitoring systems to improve data management.

Health minister Lord Howe said the fund will "encourage NHS organisations to come up with new digital ideas that not only improve services for patients but help create an environment where local IT information can be more easily shared across the NHS".

Earlier this year, the government predicted that better use of telehealth and telecare options in the UK could provide savings of up to 1.2 billion pounds.