Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the finding in the NHS report The Innovation Ecosystem Programme – how the UK can lead the way globally in health gains and life sciences powered growth, published on 28 November, that NHS staff "feel they do not have the capacity or the support to test, adopt and scale innovation"; and what steps they intend to take in response.

The Department welcomes the publication of the Innovation Ecosystem Programme (IEP) report, and is encouraged to see the National Health Service continue to engage in how it can better utilise life sciences innovation.

The Department agrees with the fundamental thesis of the IEP, that innovation will be foundational to delivering an NHS fit for the future, and the United Kingdom’s £108 billion life sciences sector can be an engine for driving both this reform and economic growth. The Department also recognises that there are currently hurdles and barriers to the swift adoption and spread of innovation, and we must work to reduce and remove these.

Research demonstrates that NHS staff who are research and innovation active are more satisfied in their roles, and provide higher quality patient care. There will be further consideration of how the Government and NHS England can support the workforce to engage actively in testing, adopting, and scaling innovation in the upcoming 10-Year Health Plan and Life Sciences Sector Plan, both of which we plan to publish in the spring.