News
Faster TAVI access could treat two patients for the price of one
A new report from Heart Valve Voice shows that prompt diagnosis of Heart Valve Disease (HVD) and faster access to treatment like Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) could halve the per patient cost. The economic modelling indicates a saving per
person of 51.7% (around £35,000) driven by fewer emergency admissions, shorter hospital stays and, if patients remain in good overall health, no social services escalation. Put simply, the modelling suggests that for the same system cost currently associated with one patient following a ‘typical’ pathway, the NHS could potentially diagnose and treat two patients through an ‘ideal’ pathway. “Our report, developed in collaboration with the British Heart Valve Society, Primary Care Cardiovascular Society, the British Society of Echocardiography and Valve for Life, shows that
a better pathway design will not only save lives but deliver efficiencies that offset the cost of intervention,” explains Wil Woan, Executive Director of Heart Valve Voice, the UK’s dedicated patient charity for heart valve disease. “Prompt diagnosis and faster access to
treatment would mean the NHS can reduce avoidable admissions and complications, generating savings that offset the cost of interventions, like TAVI, and lower the overall financial burden. This report challenges the assumption that substantial new funding is required (in fact, the NHS can make savings by being more efficient) and this approach will save lives: hundreds of heart valve disease patients die while waiting for treatment.” “There needs to be a major gear change in primary care encouraging GPs to routinely auscultate - simply listening to the heart of older adults with a stethoscope – to catch valve disease earlier and prevent so much avoidable harm,”added Dr. Clare Appleby, a Consultant Cardiologist and Clinical Lead for Intervention and TAVI at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, “But secondary care needs to shift too. Around one in four aortic valve replacements in the UK are still performed non- electively, meaning too many patients are reaching hospital as emergency cases rather than through a planned pathway.” Visit:
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MHRA launches Manchester Sandbox to test new MedTech in the NHS
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has joined with Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) to create a Manchester Sandbox allowing innovative technologies to be deployed and tested in NHS settings. The sandbox will test promising innovations
in real NHS settings, generating evidence safely on how they perform with patients and clinicians in their day-to-day practice. It will also build on the MHRA’s wider use of regulatory sandboxes to support safe innovation and accelerate patient benefit. The programme aims to rapidly evaluate healthcare solutions that can improve patient care and safety, reduce pressure on NHS services and support wider adoption of technologies that work. This collaboration provides the opportunity to test proportionate, lifecycle-based regulatory approaches, fit for the current and future needs of the healthcare system.
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The first technologies are expected to include AI-enabled medical devices, such as tools that can identify patients at higher risk of complications from long-term conditions, enabling earlier support and treatment. Learning from the programme will be shared
across the NHS and could help inform how effective new technologies are introduced in other parts of the country, supporting wider access to innovation for patients. By deploying and testing technologies in real healthcare settings, with appropriate oversight and guardrails, the programme will generate practical evidence on their ongoing safety, effectiveness and impact. This will help the NHS make more informed decisions about which innovations best meet the needs of their patients in practice and deploy those technologies faster. It will also help developers better understand the evidence needed for wider NHS use.
MedTech conference: 20% discount for CSJ readers
BSI is offering CSJ readers an exclusive 20% discount on tickets to attend its Medical Technology Conference. Dedicated to regulation and innovation, the event will offer crucial insights to help navigate change, manage risk and support informed decision- making. This one-day conference, which takes place on Monday 9 November 2026, 09:00–16:30 (GMT), at The Royal Society of Medicine, London, will bring together regulators, policymakers, standards experts and industry leaders to explore what is changing across the healthcare landscape and what it means for your organisation. Delegates will gain: greater clarity on
regulatory developments and key transition timelines; best practice approaches to quality management, risk management, usability and evidence planning; insights to support innovation, adoption and scale-up pathways; and opportunities to connect with senior healthcare leaders and decision-makers. Agenda highlights include: morning keynotes and panel discussions on UK regulatory policy and global convergence; deep dives into ISO 13485, risk management and usability, clinical evidence and post-market surveillance; AI keynote session exploring emerging opportunities and challenges; sessions on NHS and government policy priorities; innovation case studies and lessons learned; as well as deep dives on regulatory ambiguity and digital expectations. If you’re responsible for navigating
regulatory change, managing risk or shaping innovation pathways, this event is built around your priorities. To claim your 20% discount and register, visit: https://www.
eventbrite.co.uk/e/bsi-medical-technology- conference-regulation-innovation-tickets- 1988003183036?discount=CSJ
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