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23 January, 2023

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Five-year progress review highlights prospects for future development

Health Technology Wales is pleased to announce the publication of its five-year progress review report which highlights its strong progress and excellent prospects for future development.

The organisation commissioned an independent healthtech consultant to produce the report, which followed on from a three-year review carried out in 2020 and used a specification based on the 2014 Access to Medical Technologies in Wales report recommendations,

Overall, the report demonstrates that HTW has made good progress and is a trusted and valued part of the innovation landscape in Wales.

During the review process, which took place in October and November 2022, the consultant interviewed staff, observed key HTW decision making groups and examined documentary information produced by HTW.

The aim of the review was to examine its progress on improvement suggestions made in the three-year review and in achieving the objectives set out in the HTW Strategic Plan 2021-2025.

Other areas for review included:  the quality of its appraisal function, its contributions to the COVID-19 response in Wales,  key contributions HTW can offer to the forthcoming Welsh Government Innovation Strategy for Wales; and HTW’s capacity and capability in terms of staffing and leadership.

Key findings of the five-year-review include the following:

  • HTW strongly and demonstrably fulfils its core functions, and has made good progress on the improvement suggestions in the 3-year review
  • HTW is a distinct, trusted and valued part of the innovation landscape in Wales and its strategic plan provides an excellent foundation for future development.
  • Notable developments since 2020 include a significant contribution to the COVID-19 response in Wales, the development of a strong strategic plan, completion of a pilot adoption audit and innovative work on evaluating social care technologies.
  • Stakeholders who work with HTW recognise and value its expertise in the identification, appraisal and adoption of health technologies and see HTW as a well-governed organisation

Professor Peter Groves, Chair of Health Technology Wales, said: “There is an exciting future ahead for Health Technology Wales and I am confident that we can continue to expand the scope of our work.

“We have established a reputation as a trusted health technology assessment organisation with expertise that is valued across the health and care sectors.

“We look forward to continuing to work with our partners to address key health and social care priorities in Wales.”

Dr Susan Myles, Director of Health Technology Wales added: “I am very proud of the progress that has been made by Health Technology Wales and excited about the role we will play in the achieving the aims of the forthcoming Innovation Strategy for Wales.

“Our relationship with partner organisations is key to the success of our work and I am particularly pleased to read that our stakeholders trust and value our expertise in health technology assessment.

“We will continue to refine our processes and monitor the impact of our work to ensure we are delivering the best possible outcomes to support health and social care in Wales.”

A copy of the report can be read here.