A recent QIPP (Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention) Challenge event held in the North West of England has resulted in 96 per cent of NHS attendees saying they are likely to form new partnerships as a direct result of attending the event. Response from pharmaceutical industry attendees was also positive, with 78 per cent say they were likely to form a new partnership.
The event, organised by the NHS Life Sciences Innovation Delivery Board, the North West’s joint NHS and Pharma Leading Change Group and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), was planned in order to drive the quality of patient care through the facilitation of closer working between the NHS and the pharmaceutical industry.
The primary driver for joint working between the NHS and the pharmaceutical industry is improving patient care.
Mark Wilkinson, director of Life Sciences Innovation for the NHS, said: “This event gave representatives from industry and the NHS in the North West the opportunity to discuss how they can work in partnership to deliver improved outcomes for patients. There is now an understanding of each other’s position. Feedback from delegates showed a real willingness to work together, which now needs to be built on. We are also looking to facilitate ways for the NHS in other areas of the country to work more closely with the pharmaceutical industry.”
During the event, both NHS and industry representatives, gave presentations on the benefits of joint working. From the NHS perspective, the focus was on QIPP priorities and where joint working can be developed, while the pharmaceutical industry presentations looked at examples of joint working, what has been achieved and what industry is looking for in a NHS partner.
Earlier this year, the ABPI’s conference found that joint working offers a solution to meeting the challenges of both the industry and the NHS.