Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Health Technology Wales (HTW) is working with our partners in health and social care to support the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the COVID-19 situation is rapidly changing, this page will be regularly updated with new information about the ways we’re working and services we offer.

Evidence reviews and research

Health Technology Wales (HTW) is a Collaborating Partner of the Wales COVID-19 Evidence Centre, providing research expertise and input to the dedicated centre for COVID-19 pandemic response.

The Wales COVID-19 Evidence Centre is funded by Welsh Government through Health and Care Research Wales and is hosted by Cardiff University. Its key purpose is to rapidly review and synthesise UK-wide and international research evidence to support decision making by stakeholders involved in health and social care policy and practice.

Reports of the rapid evidence reviews, along with further information, can be found on the Wales COVID-19 Evidence Centre website.

HTW had previously supported the response to the pandemic by contributing to Welsh Government committees and task forces, co-authoring three pan-European collaborative reviews and providing scientific advice to industry. These reports can be found below.

A graphic that shows a clinician analysing a cell in board

Evidence digest

We’ve produced a digest of links to websites which collate or synthesize evidence relating to COVID-19. This is a quick guide, and therefore not exhaustive, but it will be updated regularly as required.

Click here to read the latest evidence digest.

Scientific advice

Technology developers and companies who are developing therapeutics and diagnostics related to COVID-19 can receive free scientific advice from HTW.

Our advice can help with a number of aspects of health technology assessments, including; evidence collection, evidence generation, economic modelling etc.

A graphic that shows a map of Wales, a boy with a face mask

Reports

Evidence Appraisal Reports View >

Tests to inform COVID-19 diagnosis Open >

Topic Exploration Reports View >

Point-of-care smartphone applications (ResAppDx-EU) for the diagnosis of acute respiratory disease Open >

Cytokine adsorbers for the treatment of cytokine storm in people with severe coronavirus infection Open >

Hydrogen peroxide vapour to reprocess single-use personal protective equipment Open >

Convalescent plasma therapy for patients with COVID-19 Open >

Safety of personal protective equipment gowns for health and social care workers Open >

Point-of-care lung ultrasound imaging for suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19 Open >

Antimicrobial treatments for medical masks or personal protective equipment Open >

Rapid summaries View >

Hospify messaging application for use in hospital or secondary care settings Open >

Face coverings to reduce COVID-19 transmissions Open >

Oximetry to guide COVID-19 management Open >

Economic reports View >

Convalescent plasma therapy: a costing review Open >

Impact View >

Impact Report Open >

Externally published reports View >

EUnetHTA – The role of antibody tests Open >

EUnetHTA – The diagnostic accuracy of molecular tests Open >

EUnetHTA – Convalescent plasma therapy Open >

BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine – Effectiveness of tests to inform COVID-19 diagnosis Open >

Get in touch with HTW about our COVID-19 work

We’re inviting COVID-related research questions, evidence reviews and requests for economics support. Organisations involved in Health Technology Assessments (HTA), guidelines and economic modelling are invited to engage with us to see how we can collaborate and share resources.

Feedback

"The HTW report detailed the evidence base regarding residual hydrogen peroxide vapour and identified dissipation studies which confirmed that residual HP on respirators was reduced to safe levels after six hours aeration. This informed the deliberations of the four nations group looking at potential solutions to enable reprocessing of PPE. HTW's flexible and responsive attitude was much appreciated in undertaking this research."

Pete Philips, Director, SMTL

"As part of the wider response to Covid-19, there has been an upturn in the demand for (very) rapid evidence reviews of Covid-19-related technologies.  Through shared outputs and close working, our collaboration with HTW has been incredibly helpful in ensuring that we maximise our evidence contribution whilst avoid duplication of effort!"

Ed Clifton, Unit Head, Scottish Health Technologies Group

"We have been alerted to your excellent evidence review on the effectiveness of COVID-19 PCR and antibody tests. We appreciate being able to signpost to this and draw on its conclusions."

Debbie Sigerson, Public Health Scotland

Further advice and resources:

The All Wales Therapeutics & Toxicology Centre (AWTTC) is providing therapeutic advice to aid the appropriate use of medicines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is providing regular updates about its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is supporting the NHS and social care to respond quickly to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG) is highlighting reliable resources that can aid health and care professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

More information about coronavirus disease (COVID-19):

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Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Evidence reviews and research

Evidence digest

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Reports

Get in touch with HTW about our COVID-19 work

Feedback

Further advice and resources:

More information about coronavirus disease (COVID-19):

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