The Department of Health (DoH) has announced £5 million of funding, in the form of two competitions, for businesses to design products or services that will help those with mental health illnesses and people at the end of their life.
Health Minister, Lord Howe said: "We need to find new ways of treating and supporting people with mental illnesses and need to ensure those approaching the end of their life are treated with dignity and respect and receive the best care and support.
"Small businesses, play a crucial role in providing creative and innovative solutions to existing problems. That's why we are supporting them through our £5 million funding to tackle these challenges and make a difference to patient's lives."
According to the DoH, mental health illnesses are the single largest cause of disability in the UK and at least one in four people will experience a mental health problem at some point in their life.
The competition calls for creative ideas and technologies that could mean mental illnesses are diagnosed earlier, and the disease better managed through a more tailored approach to care. The other competition focuses on how new technologies can help people have a better experience of end of life care. Ideas could include new technologies that provide greater comfort and help with managing pain.
Iain Gray, Chief Executive of the Technology Strategy Board said: "These new competitions represent the next step in the continued engagement of the Department of Health and the NHS in SBRI showing the value that they can get from engaging with industry, taking the role of lead customer and securing new and novel solutions to intractable problems while at the same time encouraging British business."
