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NHS announces medical devices and apps available under new tech tariff

NHS announces medical devices and apps available under new tech tariff
3 November 2016



NHS England has announced six devices and apps to be included under NHS national payment rules for the first time.

The devices will be covered under the new Innovation and Technology Tariff, which will come into effect in April 2017.

NHS England will buy the technology nationally and guarantee automatic reimbursement when an approved piece of technology is used.

This is intended to accelerate uptake, as it will remove the need for multiple local price negotiations.

The innovations offered under the new tariff include:

NHS England has announced six devices and apps to be included under NHS national payment rules for the first time.

The devices will be covered under the new Innovation and Technology Tariff, which will come into effect in April 2017.

NHS England will buy the technology nationally and guarantee automatic reimbursement when an approved piece of technology is used.

This is intended to accelerate uptake, as it will remove the need for multiple local price negotiations.

The innovations offered under the new tariff include:

  • Guided mediolateral episiotomy scissors to minimise the risk of obstetric injury
  • Atrial connecting systems to reduce bacterial contamination and the accidental administration of medication
  • Pneumonia prevention systems which are designed to stop ventilator-associated pneumonia
  • Web based applications for the self-management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • Frozen microbiota transplantation for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection rates
  • Prostatic urethral lift systems to treat lower urinary tract symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia as a day case

Outside of the tariff, there will also be central funding available for clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to purchase mobile ECG devices.

The device, which attaches to a mobile phone, allows patients to identify and measure atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation is responsible for a third of all strokes and costs the NHS over £2.2 billion annually.

Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, said: “The NHS has a proud track record of world firsts in medical innovation but getting wide uptake has often been far too slow. Our new payment system brings clarity on fast track funding to get groundbreaking new treatments and technologies to NHS patients. Many of them not only improve care but will save the NHS money too.”

Peter Ellingworth, chief executive of Association of British Healthcare Industries said: “This welcome new approach from NHS England will help ensure a robust, accessible and effective scheme that provides timely patient access to a wide range of medical technologies. We look forward to working with NHS England to implement these changes – and helping to develop an expanded scheme for 2018/19.”

NHS England will evaluate the impact of the ITT in improving patient outcomes and increased efficiency across the NHS.

It will expand the number of innovations covered by the tariff for future years, through a wider scheme that has been designed with industry, the NHS and the Academic Health Science Networks.

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