Darzi invites GP 'innovators' to bid for new cash

28 Apr 09

The cash injection, first promised to SHAs in Lord Darzi’s next stage review, has been ring-fenced for projects that deliver ‘a health, social or financial benefit’.

The DH said the money could potentially cover minor changes in existing services or new projects, with an independent expert panel set to assist SHAs in assessing applications and awarding funding.

Bids are being welcomed from the likes of PCOs, GP practices, and social enterprises or universities if they bid in partnership with an NHS organisation.

Lord Darzi said: 'NHS staff have told me that accessing the funds to make ideas become reality can be a struggle and as a result, many great ideas never get realised. That is why I am delighted to announce that we now have a £220 million innovation fund available to get those ideas off the bench and to patient bedsides, day centres or GP surgeries.

'We know that around 50% of the world’s inventions over the past 40 years originated in the UK and that the NHS is rightly recognised as a world leader in the development of innovative treatments and technologies – but we can be better at putting those good ideas into action and these funds will help do exactly that.'