Navigating the NHS tech adoption pathway can feel like trying to find your way through a maze. If you’re building a healthtech product with the aim of integrating into the NHS, you’ll quickly realise that it’s not just about building something great—it’s about understanding the system it’s going to fit into.
In the NHS, tech adoption doesn’t happen overnight. The journey from a successful pilot project to full procurement can take months, sometimes years. But knowing the key stages and challenges will make your path clearer.
Let’s break it down:
1. The Pilot Phase:
Every NHS tech solution starts with a pilot—this is your proving ground. For startups, this is where feedback matters most. If you’re lucky enough to land a pilot, it’s your opportunity to validate assumptions, get your hands dirty in real-world settings, and refine your MVP. But don’t expect immediate full-scale implementation. The goal of a pilot is to test, iterate, and demonstrate that your product can solve a real problem for NHS staff and patients.
2. Proving Impact:
After your pilot, you’ll need to show measurable outcomes. This means moving beyond anecdotal evidence. Can your product reduce waiting times? Improve patient satisfaction? Cut costs or reduce errors? Impact data is your currency in the NHS—without it, you’ll find it hard to push forward.
3. Moving to Procurement:
If your pilot delivers results, you move into the procurement process. This is where the complexity ramps up. The NHS is a vast, decentralized organisation, and getting your tech into widespread use involves navigating local commissioners, procurement teams, and often multi-layered contract negotiations. It’s crucial to understand the procurement rules and how your product fits within the NHS’s strategic priorities. This is where the rubber meets the road in terms of demonstrating your tech’s long-term value.
4. Scaling & Integration:
Once you’re through procurement, scaling is the next challenge. NHS trusts are large and complex, and getting your tech integrated into their systems is no small feat. It requires clear communication, ongoing support, and a tailored implementation strategy.
But with the right preparation, the rewards are massive. Widespread NHS adoption means not just financial success—it means a product that’s changing healthcare at scale.
At Primary Care Accelerator, we guide startups through this complex process. From securing pilot partnerships to navigating procurement and scaling your tech, we help founders avoid the common pitfalls and move their products closer to the NHS’s frontlines.
Understanding the NHS adoption pathway isn’t about cutting corners; it’s about being prepared. The process may take time, but for the startups that get it right, the impact is transformative—not just for the NHS, but for the entire healthcare ecosystem.
