Working with TrusTECH
TrusTECH gives advice on how to develop and protect healthcare innovation to all types of NHS staff (e.g. administrative staff, nurses, ambulance workers, doctors, laboratory staff, and therapists).
TrusTECH acts as a contact point between industry and NHS innovators and will advise on intellectual property (IP) protection, managing confidentiality, approaching companies, negotiating contracts, licence agreements, marketing and funding opportunities and, where appropriate, sharing innovations freely with other Trusts.
The Department of Health (DH) published a Framework and Guidance on the Management of IP in the NHS in 2002 - The NHS as an Innovative Organisation - which is based around the legislation introduced in Section 5 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001. This document builds on the DH’s policy on the Management of Intellectual Property Rights arising from NHS R&D (HSC1998/106) and the guidance issued in 1998 – The Management of IP and Related Matters. NHS Trust and Primary Care Trusts now have an obligation to recognise innovation generated within the Trust and to manage the intellectual property associated with it effectively and for the benefit of patients.
TrusTECH’s role as an innovation hub is to provide the support that Trusts need to fulfil these obligations.
TrusTECH works with member Trusts under the terms of a service level agreement that sets out the services that TrusTECH will provide to the Trust in return for payment of an annual fee.
The services that TrusTECH provides under this agreement include:
Management Support
TrusTECH will keep Trust management informed of appropriate legislation and policies issued by DH and advise the Trust on putting in place appropriate policies and procedures to manage innovation.
Training/Awareness
TrusTECH will assist the Trust with raising awareness among staff of the importance of innovation to healthcare and the benefits of protecting and developing innovative ideas. TrusTECH will provide training events and will give seminars and short talks to Trust staff from small staff meetings through to larger Trust events if required. TrusTECH can also provide posters, stands and literature for use at Trust events.
Innovation Auditing/Assessment
Innovation auditing or assessment is the first step in identifying innovative ideas and assessing their value and potential to be of benefit to a wider market either through commercialisation or free dissemination to other Trusts. For further information about how TrusTECH assesses innovations and works with Trusts to take them forward click here.
Service Innovation Scheme
Where a Trust has successfully implemented a novel service innovation, which may be of benefit to other Trusts, TrusTECH offers the opportunity for assessment under its Service Innovation Scheme and support for advertising and implementing the service in other Trusts.
IP Protection
TrusTECH will provide help and advice with all aspects of IP protection. This may range from answering a simple enquiry on copyright protection for a new guidance document through to advising if patent protection is advisable for a new device or test. Click here for more information on IP.
Funding
TrusTECH provides funding opportunities through its Pathfinder Development Fund and its Service Innovation Bursary. TrusTECH may also provide assistance with securing funding from other external schemes.