Research and innovation in the NHS 10-year plan

The NHS Long Term Plan, announced yesterday, sets out a number of improvements to build an NHS fit for the future. The NIHR has welcomed the Long Term NHS Plan and has committed to working with the NHS to drive medical advances by ensuring research and innovation is an integral part of its future.  

The new plan will improve the quality of patient care and health outcomes over the next ten years, by:

• Making sure everyone gets the best start in life

• Helping communities to live well

• Helping people to age well

Patients from many areas will benefit, this includes a focus on dementia prevention, integrated support to keep older people out of hospital, living longer and more independent lives.

Research will play a key part in bringing about these new benefits for patients. The 10-year plan recognises the important role of research and innovation in enabling breakthroughs, prevention of illness, earlier diagnosis, more effective treatments, better outcomes and faster recovery. Some measures relating to research in the plan include:

• NHS endorsement of recently announced Life Sciences Sector deal and recognition that research and innovation are important for patients and the UK economy

• Increasing the number of people registering to participate in health research to one million by 2023/24

• A commitment to innovation and ensuring it reaches patients faster with a simpler, clearer system for drugs, medtech and digital uptake

The NIHR looks forward to working with the NHS in these areas and many others highlighted in the plan. For more information visit the NHS Long Term Plan website.