Diabetes featured in Wave 2 of NHS Test Beds Programme
The second wave of an NHS England programme to improve care by combining digital technologies with pathway redesign in real-wold settings will fund three diabetes initiatives.
The Test Bed Programme brings NHS organisations and industry partners together with the goal of using the potential of digital technologies to transform the way in which healthcare is delivered for people and carers.
As part of programme’s Wave 2 Test Beds, three of the seven projects will focus on diabetes, with the others concentrating on cancer and reducing A&E admission.
Over £2 million is being provided by NHS England to support the interventions aimed at improving the management of diabetes and over £5 million is being provided by Department of Health and Social Care and OLS to supporting the other interventions .
The NHS England-funded diabetes Test Beds
| Project title | Lead organisation | Project aims |
| South London Diabetes Test Bed | South West London Health and Care Partnership | To change the dynamics of health management by empowering patients to take control of managing their condition. Using a combination of technology to create a more meaningful product, transcending patient and professionals’ needs. |
| Supported Self-Management for People with Type 2 Diabetes in Primary Care | North East Hampshire and Farnham CCG | To provide structured, ongoing self-management support for lifestyle change delivered using digital solutions embedded within existing diabetes pathways in primary care. |
| GM Diabetes My Way | Greater Manchester Strategic Clinical Networks | To test a one-stop digital platform (MyDiabetesMyWay) designed to help people self-manage their condition more effectively and provide education on how to do this. |
Delivery of the Wave 2 Test Beds will begin in autumn 2018.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “These programmes will fast track innovations from lab bench to patient bedside and help ensure that NHS patients continue to be the first to benefit from the life-changing treatments developed in this country.”
Dr Sam Roberts, director of innovation, research and life sciences at NHS England, said: “Our ambitious Test Beds programme is bringing together innovators, industry and the NHS to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing the NHS, including diabetes.
“Testing multiple cutting-edge technologies – from AI to wearable sensors – in a real-world setting, allows us to discover what works for patients and will provide the evidence needed to accelerate the use of world leading interventions as part of the long-term plan for the NHS.”
The first NHS Test Beds were announced in 2016, with the search for the second wave projects announced in February this year.