Digital innovation experts WM5G are set to play a key role supporting WMCA, and the regional health economies in improving healthcare across the region following the Government’s announcement of a £1.5 billion Levelling-Up Trailblazer Devolution Deal for the West Midlands in the Budget 2023.
The deal includes support for the creation of a Smart City Region Health, Care and Connectivity programme, which will pioneer the extension of preventative healthcare, remote patient monitoring and community diagnosis services, as well as establishing an exemplar hospital in the region using cutting-edge connectivity.
WM5G has been leading pioneering real-word trials to transform health and care services, improving patient care through greater use of sensors, data and digital connectivity. Faster diagnoses will be key to reducing patient backlogs over the coming years as well as improve the patient experience, while ongoing remote monitoring of patients will not only help reduce the burden on hospital and domiciliary care services, but also improve the patient experience, allowing more patients to receive treatment in their own homes or local communities.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA chair, said: “This announcement is a major step forward for the West Midlands with significant new powers and funding secured.
“We’re deepening devolution by building on previous deals and further empowering local leadership with the financial autonomy and decision making authority that they are best placed to deploy. No one in Whitehall can understand the West Midlands better than local leaders, and so there is no doubt in my mind that we should be empowered to shape our future – which is exactly what this new deal will allow us to do.”
Robert Franks, Managing Director at WM5G, said: “We’re delighted that the WMCA will pioneer the extension of preventative healthcare, remote monitoring and community diagnostics as part of the £1.5Bn Levelling Up Trailblazer Devolution deal announced yesterday.
“This is the first phase of the West Midlands’ Smart City Region’ programme. It builds on successful trials led by WM5G, WMCA, NHS and Local Authorities’ social care services and will deliver new and enhanced ways to improve diagnosis, recovery, wellness, disease prevention and productivity.”
To find out more about WM5G’s involvement, please contact John.Vesey@WM5G.org.uk or Jayne.Rooke@WM5G.org.uk
