Safety and transparency in surgical innovation – can we do better?

Understanding how innovation in surgery and invasive procedures is critical for patient safety. Most innovative procedures are introduced without formal research evaluation. A recent Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review by Baroness Cumberlege, highlights the need for change.

This event will disseminate findings from the ‘INTRODUCE’ study which investigated how NHS organisations oversee the introduction of new invasive and surgical procedures. Experienced speakers will explain challenges and highlight areas in need of change. It will be an opportunity to meet others involved in innovation and those responsible for oversight and patient safety and to discuss key issues.

Programme for the day

The outline agenda for the day is as follows (please note a final agenda will be provided nearer to the event)

• Welcome & introduction, Dr Anne Pullyblank, Medical Director, West of England AHSN and Consultant Surgeon, North Bristol NHS Trust
• Innovation, optimism bias and reality – a case study, Dr Deborah Cohen, Health correspondent for BBC Newsnight and former investigations editor for The BMJ
• NHS governance for innovative surgical procedures: an investigation into current practice, Results from the INTRODUCE study, Jane Blazeby, Professor of Surgery, University of Bristol
• Safely introducing new procedures into practice – recommendations from NICE, Kevin Harris, Consultant Clinical Advisor and Programme Director for the interventional procedures, NICE
• The Royal College of Surgeons of England: Research perspectives and the new Device Science and Registry Group, Peter Hutchinson, Royal College of Surgeons
• Industry push and clinician pull, David Jayne, Clinical Director, NIHR Surgical MedTech Co-operative
• How do we improve? Key issues to consider for safe innovation, Jane Blazeby
• Breakout group discussion – on the themes of safe innovation, how do hospitals improve processes, how do we define innovation, what should we be telling patients?
• Feedback from discussion
• Next steps for transparent surgical innovation, Jane Blazeby
• Closing remarks, Dr Anne Pullyblank.

Who should attend?

The event is suitable for clinicians, medical directors, and people with local and national responsibilities to create an NHS which fosters safe and transparent innovation.

Who’s running this event?

The AHSN Network is working in partnership with the NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the Royal College of Surgeons, and the NIHR Surgical MedTech Co-operative.

The event will be live streamed on Zoom. Full details will be provided 24hrs prior to the event.