Clinical engineering
Innovation: the role of clinical engineering
In an increasingly complex healthcare landscape, what role can clinical engineers have in supporting ‘development through innovation’? Experts at the National Performance Advisory Group’s Clinical Engineering Conference came together to discuss the challenges and opportunities in equipping hospitals with advanced, connected technologies.
This year, the annual National Performance Advisory Group’s Clinical Engineering Conference, took place at the Radisson Blu Stanstead Hotel. High on the agenda was the importance of interoperability and connectivity of medical technologies, the safe adoption of innovations (such as artificial intelligence and 3D printing), and the engagement of the clinical engineering community in key decision-making – from equipping the New Hospital Programme, to the roll out of the 10-Year Health Plan. Chairing the event was NPAG Associate,
Lawrence Barker – facilitator of the North and South clinical engineering groups. Opening the session, he commented that clinical engineering departments have experienced ‘a tough year’ in 2025: “Most of us have faced real reductions in terms of staffing and budgets,” he lamented, adding that “development through innovation” was key.
Challenges and opportunities In his keynote address, Professor Richard Scott outlined some of the key challenges and opportunities in clinical engineering. An electronics engineer by background, Prof. Scott recently retired from his role as Director of Medical Physics & Bioengineering at University Hospitals Bristol & Weston, to focus on IEC international standards work. Having practised as a clinical engineer in the NHS for over 40 years, he recently founded Citizen Medtech – a training and consultancy company aimed at supporting MedTech innovation in the UK healthcare sector. “The key message of the day, ‘development
through innovation’, is an important one. We need to think about the future vision for clinical engineering – we do a lot around lifecycle management, but we could do more to advance care and bring in new technologies,” he commented in his opening remarks. “I also think we need to think about ‘what are the core skills we need?’”
Clinical engineers need to engage with
their Trusts at a strategic level – advising on equipment replacement programmes and putting medical device policies in place. However, while they are deeply embedded in the day-to-day clinical activity supporting equipment, it is increasingly important to think “holistically about every piece of equipment in the hospital”. “How do we support that? How do we ensure all staff know how to use the equipment and everyone plays their part? This is becoming
20% of patients in this country live under some level of deprivation. Even if our health services are great and we’ve got the best medical equipment, around 20% may not be getting access to that equipment. So, what’s our role in that?
more challenging as equipment becomes more complex,” Prof. Scott asserted. He added that clinical engineers manage equipment “really well”, but “we’re working in an increasingly complex health system.” Moving on to the 10-Year Health Plan, he discussed the challenges ahead: “How do we close health and wellbeing gaps? How do we do things more efficiently? How do we make better use of technology? How can we ensure patients get treated in different places?” he questioned. Prof. Scott went on to highlight the initiative
‘Core20PLUS5’ – a national NHS England approach that aims to reduce healthcare inequalities. This approach defines a target population – the ‘Core20PLUS’ – and identifies ‘5’ focus clinical areas requiring accelerated improvement. “20% of patients in this country live under
some level of deprivation. Even if our health services are great and we’ve got the best medical equipment, around 20% may not be getting access to that equipment. So, what’s our role in that? Do we have a role in not only making sure the technology is safe, but in joining up patients in getting access to the right technology?” commented Prof. Scott. He pointed out that we are seeing the
emergence of a lot of “disruptive technologies”, December 2025 I
www.clinicalservicesjournal.com 21
Sansert -
stock.adobe.com
t
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70
