| Innovation | Clinical field | Test | Location | Status | Board | Contact |
| Improve management of diabetic patients who have a hypoglycaemic episode while in secondary care by utilising the connectivity of POCT glucose meters. | Diabetes | Glucose | POCT – connected | In routine use | Dumfries and Galloway | julia.anderson@nhs.net |
| POCT -connected | In progress | Grampian | elaine.davidson@nhs.net | |||
| Introduction of 0-3 hour rule-out algorithm using high sensitivity troponin T assay to facilitate early rule-out of acute coronary syndrome. | Cardiology and Acute medicine | High sensitivity troponin | Laboratory | In routine use | Dumfries and Galloway | kim.heathcote@nhs.net |
Background
The Innovation group was established in November 2015 in response to the recognition that there is a need for a co-ordinated approach/response from SCBMDN to innovation across Health Boards in Scotland. The remit of the innovation subgroup is to encourage and facilitate innovation in biochemistry practice across Scotland which will improve clinical care and effective use of resources.
Aims
The aims of the group are;
- provision of expert advice about innovative diagnostic tests/pathways to support the decision making process.
- forging links and collaborating with innovation champions, industry and the wider innovation community in order to facilitate the adoption of innovative solutions.
- ensuring communication across the network on projects within Health Boards and a co-ordinated approach to innovation in Biochemistry to enable a ‘once for Scotland ‘ approach, maximise use of resources and minimise variation across Health Boards.
- developing and supporting a national approach to innovation in primary care. The NHS is challenged with a growing range of tests within primary care and POCT in primary care is likely to progress with the change in focus of the NHS from hospitals to primary/community care described in the National Clinical Strategy for Scotland 2016.
- developing an innovation strategy to enable the aims of the innovation group.
The aims of the Innovation Group align with the Scottish Government vision for Scotland to become a world leading centre for innovation in health through partnership working between Government, NHS Scotland, industry and the research community and recommendations in the 2015 SCBMD Shared Service document.
Progress to date
- Biochemistry representatives from five Health Boards participate in the group.
- Links with the Innovation Cluster and Healthcare Improvement Scotland have been established.
- Members of the group have attended Innovation Cluster meetings which provided the opportunity to explore how the network, innovation clusters and industries can work together to introduce innovative healthcare solutions into NHS Scotland.
- Participating in a project with Digital Health & Care Institute in NHS Grampian to conduct a full health economic assessment on the use of POCT in Community Hospitals that will be validated by Health Improvement Scotland. Thus the procurement will also be open to other Scottish Health Boards and Social Care Partnerships.
Future Plans
The group will develop an Innovation Strategy to enable improved and quicker implementation of innovative processes that improve the quality of healthcare and utilise resources effectively across Scotland.