Examining the oversight of surgical innovation: the INTRODUCE study
Work to ensure new procedures and devices are introduced into clinical practice in a safe and transparent way
About the study
Innovation of invasive procedures and devices, including surgery, is important for patients and the NHS. Innovation, however, carries risk. Adverse events may occur and good outcomes cannot be guaranteed. Oversight and management of innovation is therefore needed to optimise safety and transparency.
At present, this is done in different ways across the NHS. Local NHS hospital committees may approve the introduction of new procedures, national research ethics committees may approve a new procedure to be investigated, and sometimes innovation occurs without formal oversight. Currently, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes recommendations for the type of oversight needed for innovation to occur. The implementation of NICE guidance, and the co-ordination of NHS local hospital committees with NICE recommendations, however, has not been investigated in detail.
The overall aim of the INTRODUCE study is to investigate current methods for the introduction of innovation and to use this to improve safe and transparent innovation.
How are we doing this?
1. We have examined local NHS hospital committees’ policies for the introduction of new procedures and devices in detail. Findings show inconsistencies across the organisations in England and Wales.
Read our paper here: Healthcare organisation policy recommendations for the governance of surgical innovation: review of NHS policies
2. We are working with five NHS trusts to study current practice and gain insights into decision-making in local NHS hospital committees.
Please get in touch if you or your organisation are interested in learning more.
3. We are working with NICE, members of the Health Research Authority and patient representatives to provide clear guidance for the oversight of the introduction of new invasive procedures and devices.
See the flow chart here
- North Bristol NHS Trust
- University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- NHS Frimley Health Foundation Trust
- University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
- Health Research Authority
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence