This page helps innovators understand questions such as:
- Is my innovation ready for NHS adoption?
- Who and what is involved in innovation adoption in the NHS?
- What factors impact adoption of innovations in the NHS?
Is my innovation ready for NHS adoption?
Before pursuing adoption, innovators should assess their readiness across evidence, implementation, and system fit. In practical terms, an innovation is likely to be prioritised for NHS adoption when it has evidence of end-to-end readiness, not just technical functionality but proven real-world feasibility and consider elements such as cost-effectiveness, environmental impact, health inequalities and biases, patient and public acceptability.
Unity Insights have developed the NHS Readiness Assessment Tool to help innovators understand whether their product or service is aligned with NHS requirements, priorities and operating constraints, and identify gaps that may limit adoption. This is particularly useful at pilot and adoption stages.
What organisations are involved in the adoption of innovations in the NHS?
The following organisations are key in the adoption of innovations in the NHS:
- Funding organisations often put out calls for innovators, which can facilitate adoption.
- NHS delivery organisations, such as:
- NHS sites to deploy the innovation
- Integrated Care Boards to coordinate healthcare planning
- NHS Supply Chain can procure and distribute innovations where required
- Health Innovation Networks (formerly Academic Health Science Networks, or AHSNs) are the bridge between national policy and practical adoption into NHS sites. If you want to find out more about the role of HINs, read on to find out more.
Where can I find funding opportunities?
Some funding opportunities are listed below. This is not an exhaustive list, and opportunities usually open and close on a rolling basis rather than remaining permanently available.
- Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Healthcare
- National Institute for Health and Care Research
- UK Research and Innovation
- The Health Foundation
- The British Heart Foundation
Unity Insights have significant experience with applying for funding calls. Contact us today if you would like to collaborate on a funding call.
What factors impact adoption of innovations in the NHS?
There is various guidance and factors surrounding adoption in the NHS. These are depicted in the image below.
Clear effectiveness and safety
Innovations must demonstrate effectiveness, supported by appropriate evidence for their intended use. Without credible evidence, adoption is unlikely
regardless of potential benefits.
Fit with existing clinical pathways, workflows, and populations
Innovations are more likely to be adopted when they align with how care is currently delivered and the needs of the populations they serve. This
includes compatibility with established care pathways, staffing models and skill mix, day-to-day working practices, and the characteristics,
preferences, and needs of different patient population subgroups.
Digital and technical compatibility
Poor interoperability is a major barrier to adoption. Innovations must integrate smoothly into existing NHS systems, align with national standards, and
minimise technical burden on local teams.
Organisational leadership and strategic alignment
Visible leadership support and clear alignment with organisational priorities increase the likelihood of sustained adoption.
Capacity and resource availability
Adoption can be constrained by workforce pressures and limited resources. Even high-value innovations may fail if they require significant additional
staff time, training, or infrastructure for example.
Implementation complexity and scalability
The complexity of deploying and maintaining an innovation affects adoption. Solutions that are difficult to implement are at greater risk of abandonment.
Cultural readiness and staff engagement
Innovations are more likely to succeed when they are perceived as supportive rather than disruptive, clearly reduce pressure, and avoid contributing
to innovation fatigue caused by repeated short‑term pilots.
Adoption is not driven by innovators alone, and a lack of clarity on roles and ownership is a common barrier to sustained adoption. Successful implementation often fails if some of the following key factors are not present:
Clinical and senior leadership
To support safety, credibility, and clinical buy-in
Operational ownership
To manage day-to-day delivery
Digital and IT support
To support system integration and information governance
Commissioning and finance input
To confirm affordability and funding routes
Overall, innovators should assess their readiness for NHS adoption across evidence, implementation, and system fit, alongside a clear understanding of who is involved in adoption and what influences success. Considering roles, responsibilities, and factors such as organisational alignment, technical compatibility, capacity, and staff engagement helps innovators identify gaps early and strengthen their approach to adoption and scale‑up.