I was interested to hear about the HMO system from Sweden that Trevor Lewis mentioned in your first webcast, and I'd like to know more. What did they do and how did it bail them out? What are the lessons learned that we could implement over here in the UK?

Would others agree that The NHS procurement organisation rules, regulations and general bureaucracy are a hindrance to the UK industry base which is 98% SME and unable to invest the amount of time and energy required to comply.

I see the main difficulty faced by any small company, be it start up or established SME, lies in the barriers which discourage adoption of new technologies within the NHS. Yes, a level of patient protection is needed, but many innovations fall foul of the full range of defenses even when there is little or no risk and great benefits. Despite a number of well sounding bodies and initiatives, I am yet to be convinced that a simple route exists through the labyrinth.

Is Medical Simulation Stimulating Users and Producers?

I think the pressure on the NHS to save 5% each year for the next three years will increase pricing pressures on its suppliers. We are reacting to this by working with our customers to source generic products with significant cost savings. I believe this strategy of building a UK company focused on delivering quality products with significant cost savings will enhance our opportunity and break down the barriers to entry that currently exist where the market leaders are largely International healthcare organizations.

In its report on catheters, the Rapid Review Panel refers to a recent report by the international Cochrane Collaborative which highlighted that ‘the results suggest that the use of BARDEX(R) I.C. silver alloy indwelling catheters for hospitalised adults short-term reduces the risk of catheter acquired urinary tract infection. The relative risk of symptomatic urinary tract infection was 40% lower than if a standard catheter had been used.’ Therefore, I concluded that the RRP is a necessary step in the device evaluation process, but now I’m finding that’s not necessarily the case. And just because a product is ‘approved’ by the RRP it does not guarantee the NHS will adopt it. So what is the point of the Rapid Review Panel?

The single thing that really concerns me is the capability (actually the lack of it) of the NHS to rapidly implement best practice, productivity reforms, movement to community and home, and all the other things they know they have to do before the 15 and 20 billion black hole hits in a couple of years. They currently seem incapable of getting out comparatively simple tenders. Where is the inspirational leadership delivering the change and innovation needed? Many people at the top know what is needed (I have just been with Lord Darzi at Arab Health) but the delivery mechanisms seem so disparate. All I can foresee are pockets of change and innovation, but huge areas where waiting lists grow and cuts occur.

There seems to have been a lot of announcements recently about the importance of being able to trial medical devices and as a manufacturer we have seen an increase in demand for evidence of efficacy. But is the NHS really going to be industry-friendly or will all products quickly become as highly regulated as the pharma industry?

We saw in the local press recently an announcement on a Health Innovation and Education Cluster (HIEC) being awarded in our region. We normally pay no attention to these NHS Quango announcements, but this one mentioned collaboration with industry. Does anyone know how these things will work? And what will they do?

The European Commission has asked us to become advisors on a future of medical devices EU parliament process. We are representing on behalf of UK industry on Trade and Innovation.
Please let me know your thoughts on the following four issues:

- Is the European regulatory framework appropriate?
- What are the main market access challenges and how would you reduce the technical barriers to trade between member states?
- Is it necessary to improve international regulatory coordination?
- Is counterfeiting a significant issue for medical devices?

However any observations on selling into Europe would be more than welcome.

It is vitally important for the SME voice within the medical technology and healthcare market, and the life sciences sector as a whole, to be heard and appreciated. This is a strong theme from the report which industry and government has recently published and for which an action plan is now getting underway. As a majority stakeholder in medical manufacturing, the UK SME community plays a vital role in the growth and prosperity of larger businesses with its quick response times, competitive pricing and entrepreneurial spirit.

If there were a mechanism for easily identifying the procurement route within the NHS for a particular product, more companies would be able to achieve UK sales and not have to spend so much resource targeting overseas markets.

The Medical Technologies industry is one of the strongest performing industry sectors currently, but there is still much that could be done to improve the conditions for SMEs in this area. The Voices of Industry campaign is a great initiative by Medilink West Midlands to try to capture the issues facing SMEs today. The campaign will be used to make decision makers and policy shapers in central government listen to what industry has to say, so I hope as many companies as possible will take the time to share their views.