DigitalHealth.London has opened applications to their flagship Accelerator programme for the next generation of digital health companies to bolster health and care.

The NHS delivered programme has supported digital companies now being used by the NHS in London, including LIVI, Oxehealth, Patchwork Health, Echo, Sweatcoin, and Health Navigator.

Applications open today for six weeks. The deadline for companies to apply is midnight Sunday 12 September 2021. For companies offered a place on the programme, support will begin in mid-January 2021.

WHY IT MATTERS

The digital products and services that have provided innovation, support and capacity to the NHS during the response to COVID-19 have come through the Accelerator.

The Accelerator backed products have helped with a range of activities, including enabling remote GP appointments, supporting NHS temporary staffing and boosting patient-facing self-management apps.

The need remains for innovations to solve the challenges faced by the NHS as it continues to be under pressure as it recovers from the pandemic.

Now in its sixth consecutive year, the Accelerator has supported 112 innovative digital health companies, with 411 additional contracts signed by those companies during Accelerator support. 

According to the DigitalHealth.London Accelerator Interim Evaluation report, for every £1 spent on the programme it is estimated that over £14 is saved for the NHS. 

"NHS Staff and patients have been introduced to new ways of doing things through digital health, and technology has enabled many key services to continue during the COVID-19 pandemic."

-Jenny Thomas, programme Director, DigitalHealth.London Accelerator

THE LARGER CONTEXT

Earlier this year, NHS-approved digital therapeutics company, my mhealth, along with three European collaborators, were awarded a €2.5 million Eurostars Grant for the development of their project, CUOREMA.

The European Parliament and the Council has agreed on a provisional political agreement to launch a new COVID-19 recovery response programme called EU4Health.

ON THE RECORD

Jenny Thomas, programme Director, DigitalHealth.London Accelerator, said: “The last year and a half in the NHS has seen profound challenges but also incredible progress. NHS Staff and patients have been introduced to new ways of doing things through digital health, and technology has enabled many key services to continue during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I am extremely proud of the companies and NHS organisations we have worked with and the role they have played during the pandemic and the vital roles I know they will continue to play as we start to look at supporting the NHS to recover. I am very excited to announce the opening of applications to be part of the next cohort of innovators on the DigitalHealth.London Accelerator programme – innovators who we will support in being part of this next, pivotal stage for our healthcare system.”

Tara Donnelly, chief digital officer of NHSX, said: "The DigitalHealth.London Accelerator programme is a key player in helping the NHS and social care to make the most of the opportunities digital technologies bring. This has never been more important as the NHS looks to recover from the pandemic and I look forward to seeing the next group of innovators bringing their solutions to London’s NHS.”