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Below you can explore some illustrations of just how different parts of the NHS continue to lead the way.

To lead the way in treating chronic illness, we’re letting our patients get on with their lives.

To lead the way in infection control, our mobile unit is giving us a clean break.

To lead the way in medicine distribution, we’re making science fiction into science fact.

To lead the way in treating cancer, we’re virtually there already.

To best manage the population’s investment, we’re leading the way in world class procurement.

To lead the way in intensive care unit efficiency, we’re following in the footsteps of a prancing horse.

To lead the way in fighting climate change, our bus service is just the ticket.

To lead the way in getting smokers to quit, we’re seeing how much they can puff away.

To lead the way in tackling obesity, our Body Volume Index is taking a real weight off our shoulders

Our Technology Adoption Centre is leading the way in leading the way.

Go Forwards

To lead the way in treating chronic illness, we’re letting our patients get on with their lives.

Our Technology Adoption Centre is leading the way in leading the way.

Here at the NHS we pride ourselves in being at the forefront of healthcare service provision, striving every day to find new ways of treating all conditions.

In September 2007 we launched our very own Technology Adoption Centre to help us do this. An innovation in itself, the Centre is the first organisation of its type in the world. If there’s a technology out there that could benefit our patients, the Centre will be looking for ways to get hold of it. With the main aim of increasing the uptake of new technology in all areas of the NHS, it identifies new techniques or practices and works with partner organisations to develop them for UK use.

One example is a Virtual Reality Clinical Skills Training System. This 3D graphics systems allows healthcare practitioners to practice different clinical skills in virtual reality, reducing the cost of training and eliminating the need to practice on real patients. The first program, Virtual Veins, provides training on venepuncture, the puncturing of veins for drawing blood, intravenous feeding, and administration of medicine.

Another new technology is an Advanced Retinal Imaging system, which uses sophisticated laser technology to provide an extensive electronic image of a patient's retina. This allows for the earlier and easier diagnosis of abnormalities and benign conditions, meaning that patients can be treated without having to visit an ophthalmologist. It’s also a more comfortable method of scanning the eye for the patient.

As the British population continues to get older, the pressure on the NHS to cope with the additional strain on its resources is increasing. It’s technologies like these, made possible by the Technology Adoption Centre, which will enable the NHS to meet that challenge.