Centre to test health innovations

Health Secretary Alex Neil believes centre will help Scotland continue as leading health innovators. Picture: Ian Rutherford

Individuals and organisations will be able to submit healthcare devices for review by experts, who will test their potential for use within the NHS.

It is hoped the scheme will mean that patients could have earlier access to the latest medical technology.

Health Secretary Alex Neil visited the centre at the Clydebank hospital near Glasgow to meet with staff.

The facility will bring together health professionals and clinical experts, who will be responsible for turning new ideas into better treatment for patients.

They will be joined by Scottish Health Innovations Ltd (SHIL), which will be relocating its base to join the innovation team in Clydebank.

Mr Neil said: “Scotland is already a world-leader in developing new treatments within a variety of different specialisms.

“The Golden Jubilee National Hospital continues to be at the centre of this innovation and has been pivotal in leading ground-breaking surgery for heart disease, complex orthopaedic hip and knee replacements, as well as introducing different ways of delivering anaesthesia.

“The testing and early implementation of new medical devices is crucial to this work and the new testing process at the Golden Jubilee could see earlier roll-outs of new hi-tech and potentially life-saving medical technology across Scotland’s NHS.”

He added: “The Government recently announced an initial £100,000 national health and social care innovation fund, which aims to raise millions of pounds, to develop original and pioneering treatments for Scotland’s patients.

“The Golden Jubilee National Hospital will also work on behalf of NHS Scotland to raise funds for new initiatives from a variety of sources, including donations and European grants.”