Mark Drakeford AM, Minister for Health and Social Services
This was published under the 2011 to 2016 administration of the Welsh Government
Following an inquiry by the National Assembly for Wales Health and Social Care Committee and subsequent recommendations, I gave a commitment that I would implement a new approach to the identification and appraisal of new technologies for health and social care in Wales.
Following extensive stakeholder engagement on the matter, we have now reached a decision to implement a standalone health technology hub for Wales. This hub will deliver a strategic, national approach to the identification, appraisal and adoption of new technologies into health and care settings.
Following an open call I am pleased to announce that Velindre NHS Trust will be the host organisation for the hub. Velindre have strong experience and expertise in this area through their existing hosting relationship with national functions such as the Welsh Blood Service and the NHS Wales Informatics Service.
The hub is built on a strong partnership between academic and health organisations that will provide a range of expertise such as horizon scanning, health economics, technology appraisal and indeed technology discard. Working with appraisal and testing bodies such as CEDAR and The Surgical Materials Testing Laboratory we will be capitalising on existing skills within Wales. The hub will also work closely with our NHS procurement service to ensure approved technologies are accessible to health boards.
The hub will come into being from the start of the financial year 2016-17 and will be fully operational by the autumn of this calendar year.