Last week, on the 15 of July (2015), the UK government launched an accelerated access engagement website seeking views on how to accelerate access to medicines in the NHS (open until September).

The initiative is supported by the Wellcome Trust and led by Sir Hugh Taylor, Chair of Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, who describes the expected benefits of faster access to medicine:

“…finding new ways to get drugs, devices and diagnostics to patients faster is a very worthwhile task. Many benefits will flow from progress in this area: better treatment and health outcomes for patients; more cost-effective and affordable ways for the NHS to treat patients; and a more central role for research organisations and charities. This will also provide opportunities for business by getting their produces to patients quicker, and a major boost for our economy and the country if we can become a world-leader in designing, developing and using innovative products.”

( Sir Hugh Taylor, in a Wellcome Trust blog at: http://blog.wellcome.ac.uk/2015/06/04/accelerated-access-review-speeding-up-access-to-innovative-drugs-and-medical-technologies-for-nhs-patients/ – accessed 20/7/15)

More on this review on the government website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/accelerated-access-review