One of Lord Darzi’s key recommendations in his interim report released today is the creation of a Health Innovation Unit – with a budget of £100m ‘to help the NHS develop and deploy hi-tech health care such as medical devices and diagnostics’.
But it is wholly unclear that a new central body is what is required to drive innovation in the NHS. The NHS already has such a body – the National Institute for Innovation and Improvement – and its lack of impact has been noticeable.
A report released today by Civitas argues that a Health Innovation Unit will only help if the NHS follows its reform agenda to the full and embraces diversity and competition; PCTs must be empowered as strong commissioners, providers must be autonomous and patients must have real choice. Central direction needs to end.