Burnham calls on North West biomedical companies to innovate

Shadow Minister Andy Burnham MP has called on North West biomedical companies to push the “maximum level” of innovation to safeguard the future success of the NHS.

Mr Burnham was speaking at a Manchester event with a 70-strong audience of healthcare and life sciences associates from industry, finance, academia, the public sector and legal and IP services.

Mr Burnham said: “We need to re-establish the NHS for the 21st century and transform the way healthcare is delivered. It has traditionally been a ‘sickness service’ but it needs to move more towards prevention. We need to keep people well supported and living independently at home for as long as we can.

“The challenge is such that I do not think this can be done without the highest level of innovation and partnership with industry and our universities.

“Biomedical companies in the North West have such a huge part to play in this by coming up with innovations for medical devices, adaptions to the home and new medicines.”

The event was hosted by Wigan businessman Michael Norris who runs consultancy Norris Biomedical Services which offers strategic support to biomedical and technology SMEs.

Michael said: “I believe passionately in the NHS and think it performs as well as it can in its current form. But for it to dramatically improve, it needs to do things differently and this is where innovation comes in.”

Also speaking at the event was Dr Matt Pearce, chief executive of Albert Medical Devices and Rapid Rhythm, who talked about the challenges SMEs face when trying develop and commercialise a product. He said: “The biggest challenges are getting adequate funding and having the time to innovate an idea.

“It’s also about knowing the right people – it is easy to hit a brick wall with the NHS and many companies find it difficult to get their ideas in front of the right people.”

Dr Andy Round, senior investment director at SPARK Impact which manages the North West Fund for Biomedical added: “Around 75 per cent of venture capital is invested in the South East so it’s important to have funds to support life sciences in the North West. Venture capital is also important to support the UK economy.”