Medical Technology Group Warns Against ‘Slow-Tech’ NHS

Today the Medical Technology Group, backed by leading politicians, warned that the UK is falling behind other European countries in uptake of medical technologies.

Launching a 12 point Action Plan, “Medical Technology – Can We Afford To Miss Out?”, the Group warned that any cuts to NHS technology budgets would cost more in the long-run and risked damaging the quality of life of thousands of patients with diabetes, heart disease and other long-term conditions.

The Action Plan highlights examples of slow uptake of technologies including: 

• Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICDs), which can lead to a 50% reduction in cardiac deaths, were implanted in Germany at over three times the UK rate last year, despite being recommended by NICE.
•  Less than 4% of patients with Type One diabetes have access to an insulin pump in the UK, compared with 35% in the US, despite these being approved by NICE.

For further details see our press release 

The full report can be downloaded here

Please contact mail@mtg.org.uk for more information.