News Item • 4 mins read
The Chief Scientific Officer’s Knowledge Transfer Partnership (CSO KTP) Programme Wrap-up event was hosted on the 19th of July at the National Physical Laboratory.
Enhancing patient care through collaboration
The CSO KTP is an initiative that brings together NHS scientists to accelerate the development and implementation of innovative approaches to enhance patient outcomes through collaboration with industry bodies. This NHS England initiative works with KTP partners such as the NPL, the National Measurement System (NMS), UKAS, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the National Measurement Laboratory at LGC (NML at LGC).
The CSO KTP programme enables healthcare scientists to contribute to the improvement of patient care while remaining in their clinical service roles. By exchanging skills and expertise with experts, participants have the opportunity to create, expand, enhance, or implement innovative ideas that have a direct impact on the quality of care provided to patients.
Successful partnerships and projects
Over the past 18 months, the CSO KTP programme has seen the successful completion of several projects led by KTP associates in collaboration with scientists and experts from the NMS and UKAS. These projects have addressed challenges in various areas, including novel diagnostics, advanced therapeutics, medical devices and digital health, and measurement and standards.
UKAS has been involved in supporting a number of these projects, and special mentions must go to Alyson Bryant – Accreditation Specialist, Martin Stearn – Senior Assessment Manager and the late, and very dearly missed David Compton – Head of Development, for the parts they have played with these projects.
Achieving impactful outcomes
The projects undertaken have resulted in a range of impactful outcomes that positively contribute to healthcare standards and service delivery.
Some of these outcomes include the validation of novel technologies for routine applications, the development of frameworks to standardise testing and quality assurance schemes, the implementation of national audits, and the establishment of robust national networks. These achievements not only enhance the quality and safety of service delivery but also have a wider positive impact on patient care across the NHS.
Reflections on progress
The success of the CSO KTP programme can be attributed to the collaborative approach between KTP associates, the NMS, UKAS, and other programme partners.
Lorraine Turner, Accreditation Director at UKAS, highlights the significance of this collaboration, stating, “UKAS has been pleased to support the KTP Associates in pursuing their projects during the past 18 months. It has been a great opportunity to work with the KTP Partners to provide opportunities for healthcare scientists, draw support and expertise from the national measurement system to progress initiatives, and develop novel approaches focused on demonstrably robust scientific practice. It will be exciting to see how the outcomes of these projects influence activities in UKAS accredited services.”
A Platform for Future Collaborations
The CSO KTP programme has paved the way for future collaborations and partnerships in healthcare science. The success of the initial projects has demonstrated the value of combining the expertise of healthcare scientists with the resources and knowledge available within the various partners.
Looking ahead, the programme will continue to support and fund new partnerships across various themes, including antimicrobial resistance, novel diagnostics, advanced therapeutics, medical devices and digital health, clinical measurements and standards, and accreditation. These partnerships will play a crucial role in advancing healthcare science and driving continuous improvement in patient care.
Applying to the CSO KTP Programme
Healthcare scientists who are interested in participating in the CSO KTP programme can find more information and apply through the website.
For any inquiries or further information about the CSO KTP programme, interested individuals can contact the National Measurement Laboratory (NML) at LGC via email at [email protected].