Chris Whitehouse, a political consultant and expert on medical technology policy and regulation at Whitehouse Communications, and advisor to MedTech companies looks at the priorities for the new Chair of Health Innovation Network, and urges MedTech suppliers to engage with regional Networks to develop evidence for value based procurement assessments.
Professor Ben Bridgewater has been appointed as the new Executive Chair of the Health Innovation Network, representing England’s 15 regional health innovation networks nationally. He will spearhead the Network’s mission to harness innovation to improve health outcomes and drive economic growth, focusing on impact.
The 15 health innovation networks accelerate the adoption and spread of proven innovations across the NHS and life sciences sector, including MedTech, working with health and care systems, academia, and industry. In the past year alone, Network activity benefited over one million patients, leveraged almost 500 million GBP of investment through support to innovators, and created or safeguarded more than 900 jobs in the UK.
Bridgewater will continue in his role as Chief Executive of Health Innovation Manchester while also taking up national responsibilities on behalf of the Network. He brings extensive experience as a former cardiac surgeon, clinical leader and innovator, with a track record of delivering national policy, leading digital transformation, and forging major NHS-industry partnerships.
Since 2018, he has led Health Innovation Manchester through a period of growth and transformation, securing significant external investment and delivering nationally recognised programmes such as the Greater Manchester Care Record and pioneering work in obesity care.
As Executive Chair, Prof Bridgewater will focus on strengthening the Network’s national influence and impact. He said: “This is a pivotal moment for the Health Innovation Network. To meet the needs of patients, health systems and the UK economy, we must continue to sharpen our focus, raise our ambition and deliver a step change in impact.
“The 10 Year Health Plan and Life Science Sector Plans have set ambitions to transform health services, to improve health outcomes, drive economic growth and establish the UK as a global powerhouse for health and life sciences. The 15 health innovation networks have been acknowledged as a key part of the future of the health innovation landscape.
“I am delighted to take on this role and look forward to working with colleagues nationally to realise this opportunity.”
The MedTech sector should engage with the 15 individual networks to develop projects that can produce case studies in partnership with the NHS to demonstrate the impact of their products. Such real world evidence will be essential if suppliers are not to be on the back foot when value based procurement is rolled out across the NHS in England in early 2026.
The Author used AI in preparing this article, comments upon, or questions about which can be addressed to chris.whitehouse@whitehousecomms.com.
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