FemTech has the potential to tackle gender-related health inequalities and improve the quality of life for millions of women in the UK. But to achieve maximum impact, FemTech must be fully integrated into NHS pathways and services. In this blog, NHS Navigator for DigitalHealth.London, Yasmin Stinchcombe explores how FemTech innovators can successfully engage with the NHS.
FemTech (women’s technology) is a category of health technologies and services focused on supporting and improving women’s health. FemTech includes many solutions and innovations designed for women’s health needs, including maternal, menstrual, pelvic and sexual health. Additionally, the technology can also address several broader health issues that affect women disproportionately or differently from men, such as osteoporosis or cardiovascular disease.
These innovations can range from apps that support menstrual tracking, AI tools that improve the identification of certain conditions (such as osteoporosis) at an earlier stage, medical devices that support symptoms of menopause and much more. FemTech has the potential to redefine health care for women and, by providing support that is personalized, accessible, practical and tailored to their specific needs, it can address health equity, diversity and inclusion. We worked on exceptional innovations as part of our first Acceleration of the FemTech program.
One of the burning questions we worked on with the program innovators was “How can we support the integration of FemTech into the NHS and wider healthcare ecosystem?»
As with most new areas of innovation, a key aspect of gaining traction, particularly within the NHS, is ensuring that the innovator understands the problem or challenge they wish to solve. Within the FemTech space, this starts with listening more to women and their clinicians. By listening carefully, we can begin to truly understand the experiences, difficulties and challenges they face in relation to their healthcare needs, as well as those they encounter in their wider daily lives. By understanding the challenges women face, innovators can create a solution that solves both a need and an existing priority within the ecosystem, rather than a problem they think exists or see as a priority.
This listening exercise works best when it takes a multifaceted approach; speaking to women from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, ages and socio-economic groups through multiple methods. Different groups often have unique accessibility needs, knowledge levels, and cultural experiences, highlighting the importance of gaining in-depth knowledge about why some women are more likely to experience certain symptoms, develop health problems or access to certain services.
An example of this could include the development of a solution that supports an increase in the uptake of cervical smears. Understanding why statistically fewer women are accessing cervical cancer screening programs is essential, for the following potential reasons:
- Difficulty accessing an appointment booking system
- Difficulty finding an appointment at a convenient time depending on professional and family commitments
- A fear of pain during an exam
- Language barriers or other practical issues
Each of these questions can be resolved through innovations; others may focus on a single obstacle/issue or be broader in scope.
Once the root of the challenge has been identified, another key aspect of integrating FemTech innovations into the NHS is to build and develop a strong value proposition on the innovation. This involves clearly articulating the problem and solution to different stakeholders – from how the problem was identified, to how the solution addresses the problem, and what the impact will be at the citizen, service level. and the system.
As part of the value proposition, the needs of the innovator must consider and communicate:
- The business case and return on investment for purchasing and using the technology (e.g., improved patient outcomes, saving time or saving money)
- What evidence is available that supports that the product does what you claim it can do?
- How does it fit into the patient journey and how does it affect stakeholders, directly and indirectly?
- Information Governance (IG) and Considerations
The final piece of the puzzle is determining which NHS audiences you need to reach:
- Who in the healthcare system benefits from this value proposition?
- Who will implement it?
- Who pays?
It is very rare that the answer to these three questions is the same.
The value proposition and stakeholder engagement should then be tailored to each of these groups so that they can clearly understand the benefits of the innovation in relation to their own needs and those of their patients.
The acceleration of FemTech was achieved by the South London Health Innovation Network (HIN) and partners (the network, CW Innovation, Mills & Reeves and others), using funding from Innovate UK under the Biomedical Catalyst in collaboration with the Medical Research Council.
