The role of innovation is significantly increasing in the health and care sector. There is a huge amount of potential.
Over the next few years, ideas in innovation will continue to be incorporated and used more widely in the patient care pathway.
We are working closely with our partners across the region, such as the Eastern Academic Health Science Network, various health organisations and universities to introduce new initiatives. We are ensuring that learning and experience can also be shared outside the region as well, working together to highlight our work at a national level.
Technology, digital innovation and applications in innovation can help make types of cancer easier to identify and diagnose, while the innovative use of digital technology can help drive efficiencies in care, reduce waiting times, improve outcomes and make appointments more accessible. This means we are exploring ideas that don’t just benefit cancer patients and their carers/families, but can be tested and introduced to make a difference to patients’ lives across multiple conditions, who might benefit from shared thinking and approaches.
The Cancer Alliance is active in working with the national cancer programme team on innovations such as colon capsule endoscopy and cytosponge for early diagnosis of gastro-intestinal cancers, as well as introducing teledermatology across the region, for the early detection of skin cancers using advanced diagnostic techniques.
Further information about these initiatives and the trusts/STPs/ICSs that have introduced them is provided in the sub-pages below.