King's Fund: NHS and life sciences industry partnerships: collaborating to improve care (18 November 2024)

Summary

There is growing national interest in the potential for wider and deeper partnerships between the NHS and life sciences sector. The UK life sciences industry is a significant asset and there is a sense that more could be done to bring its strengths together with the NHS to improve both the nation’s health and economic prosperity.

This King's Fund report examines how the NHS can collaborate with industry partners in the life sciences sector by exploring four case studies of collaborative working projects between NHS organisations and pharmaceutical companies (a well-established and codified way for the NHS and industry to work in partnership). Between February and August 2024, 18 people involved in these projects were interviewed and relevant documents reviewed to understand the experience and impact of the partnerships.

The report found that, in the right circumstances, these partnerships can be powerful catalysts for improvement, bringing benefits for patients, staff and services. The involvement of industry can bring much-needed resource to pump-prime change, as well as access to valuable skills and expertise.

Making a success of these partnerships is not easy: it requires significant time and effort from all partners, as well as a high level of rigour around the design and delivery of projects.

Our work suggests NHS–industry partnerships could bring benefits if used more widely and on a more strategic basis. This will require NHS and industry bodies to create a supportive context and put in place practical support at local and national levels, addressing key issues around openness and trust, access and experience, and leadership and oversight.