HEDS is part of the School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR) at the University of Sheffield. We undertake research, teaching, training and consultancy on all aspects of health related decision science, with a particular emphasis on health economics, HTA and evidence synthesis.

Tuesday 3 November 2015

Accelerated Access in the UK

Sir Hugh Taylor’s interim report on the Accelerated Access Review has just been published here.  The interim report describes the review’s progress in preparing proposals to improve the current system for developing, evaluating and adopting innovative medical technology for the benefit of patients, the health system and the life sciences industry.

Building on extensive responses from stakeholders during an initial period of engagement, which is summarised in the supporting evidence documents, the report sets out 5 main propositions which will form the basis of the review’s next phase of engagement. These are summarised below.  The review intends to publish its final report with more detailed recommendations by April 2016.
  • Putting the patient centre stage: Patients should be given a stronger voice at every stage of the innovation pathway.
  • Getting ahead of the curve: A radically new approach is required to accelerate and manage entry into our health system for the emerging products that promise the most significant, potentially transformative impact in terms of patient benefit and overall value.
  • Supporting all innovators: In addition to accelerating access to a select number of the most promising new products, our end-to-end innovation pathway can, and should, also be more responsive to the wider, irrepressible surge of innovation presented at all levels of the system, particularly where its introduction will contribute to better outcomes for patients and more productive and efficient ways of delivering care.
  • Galvanising the NHS: The NHS must be an active partner in promoting innovation, and must be incentivised to adopt new products and systems quickly and effectively.
  • Delivering change: Building on existing health system structures, a new system architecture is required at local and national level to accelerate access to the best new products and related models of care on a sustainable basis, within a framework of collective agreement to ambitions and goals.