Using technology to improve dermatology

The aim of this competition is to identify and fund innovative technology that improves diagnosis and ongoing management of skin conditions. The competition is particularly looking for solutions that:

• suit all skin conditions and all ages
• can be applied to other medical conditions

NHS Scotland is looking for new solutions from industry partners that include, but are not limited to:

• increasing the number of citizens who can better manage their ongoing skin condition through lifestyle and prevention or early intervention, combined with enhanced compliance with medication and treatment
• providing secure, ‘virtual discussions’ between citizens, GPs, nurse specialists, dermatologists and other specialty doctors. Virtual discussions should allow sharing of digital (including 3D) images of skin conditions, data reported by patients (collected over agreed times) and collected by other healthcare professionals

Innovations should result in these outcomes:

• an increase in virtual discussions and decrease in face-to-face consultations
• a better connected educational network, with better-informed citizens and healthcare professionals. Patients should be able to better self-manage their skin conditions. They should also recognise the importance of attending consultations when determined for clinical reasons
• reduced routine return appointments
• the use of ‘smart booking’ technology to allow patients to initiate their own reviews
• reduced administrative burden for clinicians by electronically recording and reporting outcome measures and next actions

The proposed digital platforms used to provide these solutions should enable evidenced-based decision-making at every stage before onward referral.

Digital platforms should effectively and securely interface with existing NHS Scotland IT infrastructure. They should be user-friendly and work with the current technologies and devices used by citizens. Digital solutions should be flexible to allow for national and local development of the resource in line with service needs.

To lead a project, you must:

• be an organisation of any size
• work alone or in collaboration with others (businesses, research base and third sector)

Funding and project details

NHS Scotland and Scottish Enterprise have allocated up to £450,000 to fund innovation projects in this competition.

This is divided across 2 phases:

• up to £150,000 is for phase 1
• up to £300,000 is for phase 2

Phase 1

In phase 1 you will show the technical feasibility of your proposed innovation. Projects can range in size up to a total cost of £30,000 each. Development contracts for feasibility studies should last up to 6 months. Phase 1 will have total funding of up to £150,000.

In the Phase 1 proposal, applicants should include their goals and an outline plan for Phase 2. This should cover testing in a live NHS system (see below). Proposals should also include an explicit plan for full commercial implementation.

Phase 2

Phase 2 is only open to applicants that have successfully completed phase 1. In phase 2, you will develop and evaluate prototypes or demonstrators of the more promising projects completed in phase 1. Projects should last up to 1 year. Projects can range in size up to a total cost of £150,000 each. Phase 2 will have total funding of up to £300,000.

The final 6 months of each contract in phase 2 will involve testing the shortlisted solutions in live healthcare settings at:

• NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
• NHS Forth Valley
• NHS Highland

Successful proposals must demonstrate the ability to test at these facilities.