UK

Since April 2016, procurement of a number of devices, which are reimbursed on top of HRG in England via High Cost Device List, was transferred from local level to the national level under NHS Supply Chain. NHS Supply Chain released a new set of questions and answers to the most common questions from the providers. The document provides substantial insights into specifics of the procurement process.

The Clinical Coding and Schedule Development Group develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclature for private payers in England. New codes were added for video-assisted anal fistula treatment, infracoccygeal sacropexy using mesh to repair uterine and vaginal vault prolapse.

In the second two weeks of July, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published one new (FebriDx for C-reactive protein and Myxovirus resistance protein A testing in primary care) and 3 updated Medtech Innovation Briefings, new Diagnostics Guidance for quantitative faecal immunochemical tests to guide referral for colorectal cancer in primary care and three new Interventional Procedures Guidance for laparoscopic insertion of a magnetic titanium ring for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, transcatheter aortic valve implantation for aortic stenosis and hysteroscopic sterilisation by insertion of intrafallopian implants.

The package will allow small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop and test new technologies in the NHS. This could include innovations such as digital technologies to help patients manage their conditions from home instead of a hospital, or to develop new medicines. Access to this funding will also speed up the time it takes to get new technologies from the lab to patients in the NHS.

The Clinical Coding and Schedule Development Group develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclature for private payers in England. Several codes were added to both procedural and diagnostic Schedules, including procedures for treatment of knee and hip osteoarthritis, robotic procedure, insertion of wireless pacemaker.

The report aims on measuring baseline incidence and cost of inpatient falls prior to launch of falls improvement initiative of nineteen trusts for 2017/2018 financial year.

In the first two weeks of July, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published four Medtech Innovation Briefings (Nasal Alar SpO2 sensor for monitoring oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry, Arctic Sun 5000 for therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest, L-Dex U400 for lymphoedema after breast cancer treatment, FreeStyle Libre for glucose monitoring), new clinical guideline for Parkinson’s disease in adults, and updated diagnostic guidance for a new generation cardiac CT scanners.

Researchers evaluated care process, access, administrative efficiency, equity and health care outcomes in 11 countries on the basis of published health care statistics for 72 indicators. The best overall performers among European countries were the UK (ranked 1st), the Netherlands (3rd), Norway (4th), Sweden and Switzerland (6th). Germany (8th) and France (10th) were low in the ranking.

The Head of NHS England has announced recently, that England will start a pilot of much deeper integrated care in 9 areas, covering about 7 million people. Integration will tighten up the links between hospital, GP and social care. Integration will be organized in the form of so-called "accountable care systems".

In last two weeks of June, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published one Medtech Innovation Briefing (RIDASCREEN tests for monitoring infliximab in inflammatory bowel disease), four new interventional procedures guidance for vaginal vault prolapse and uterine prolapse and one new diagnostics guidance for multiple frequency bioimpedance devices to guide fluid management in people with chronic kidney disease having dialysis.

The Clinical Coding and Schedule Development Group develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclature for private payers in England. Several codes were added to both procedural and diagnostic Schedules, including procedures on spine and endoscopy procedure.