Ernst & Young (EY) has launched a digital innovation programme to support and accelerate the use of technologies in health and social care.
Let’s Get Digital will run over the course of a year and will look to partner with innovators who are working to deliver benefits to professional health and care staff, patients, service users and carers by using digital platforms.
Those eligible may include entrepreneurs working in SMEs, health and social care organisations and the voluntary sector, in addition to patients and carers themselves.
John Farenden, director of Let’s Get Digital, commented: “It’s not a competition; it’s about giving people a chance to showcase what they are doing more widely.
“We want to seek out digital-based innovations that can reduce costs for the NHS and local authorities, have a measurable impact on improved health and social outcomes, reduce health inequalities, and which also make life easier for patients, their families and their carers.”
Successful partner applicants will have the chance to participate in events across the UK, as well as being able to apply for the EY Foundation’s Accelerate programme that provides coaching, business workshops and network opportunities.
Entrants will additionally have the opportunity to join the EY Start-Up Challenge, which sees ten tech start-ups participate in a six-week innovation programme. The scheme provides access to mentors, training workshops, investor networking and financial guidance.
Victoria Betton, programme director for digital health organisation mHealthHabitat and joint organiser of #pdDigital15, a national event to push people-driven digital health and wellbeing, commented: “The potential for people driven digital innovation from the ground up should be recognised, understood and supported at a strategic level.
“It is only by people driving digital innovation that a change can be achieved and outcomes in health and care transformed.”
