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The MedTech Funding Mandate (MTFM) is a NHS Long Term Plan commitment to get selected NICE-approved cost-saving devices, diagnostics and digital products to NHS patients more quickly.

These products provide effective patient care and improve outcomes demonstrated through positive NICE guidance. They also meet specific financial criteria including being affordable to the NHS (the budget impact should not exceed £20 million in any of the first three years) and cost-saving within three years (NICE modelling demonstrates a net saving within three years of implementing the technology).

The MTFM policy is an NHS England initiative, and as an AHSN, it is our role to help the adoption and spread of these innovations. Over the past year, we have built strong relationships with our NHS commissioners and providers across our region to understand their challenges and how to best facilitate the implementation of the MTFM products.

The technologies included in the MTFM 2022-23 policy are categorised into the following main themes:

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) – a common prostate condition for which the selected technologies will provide alternative treatment to transurethral resection of the prostate. The four BPH technologies are:

• Greenlight XPS – uses a laser to reduce the size of an enlarged prostate.
• Rezum – uses water vapour to destroy excess prostate tissue.
• PLASMA System – uses electrodes to cut out prostate tissue.
• UroLift – lifts and holds the enlarged prostate tissue away from the urethra, relieving the compression of this organ.

Improving the patient experience during procedures – the chosen products will provide alternatives to otherwise more invasive and costly procedures. These technologies are:

• Spectra Optia – apheresis and cell collection platform for people with sickle cell disease who require automated red cell exchange.
• XprESS Multi Sinus Dilation System – a sterile, single-use device for treating chronic sinusitis with a dilating balloon.
• Thopaz+ – a portable digital chest drain system which accurately monitors and records air leak and fluid drainage.

Thopaz+ and Spectra Optia use digital technology to increase efficiency and improve outcomes compared to the alternatives, whilst XprESS is a minimally invasive alternative to invasive sinus surgery.

We will be also continuing to work with the four products from the 2021-22 policy as the AHSN supports further implementation over the next year. These are:

• Placental growth factor-based testing (PlGF) – a blood test to rule out pre-eclampsia in pregnant women.
• SecurAcath – for securing percutaneous catheters.
• HeartFlow – creates a 3D model of a patient’s coronary arteries and assesses the extent and location of blockages.
• gammaCore – a handheld device which alleviates the symptoms of severe cluster headaches.

If you would like more information or want to discuss how the policy could support the adoption of these innovations in your area, please contact your Yorkshire and Humber regional leads Adam Smith and Harriet Smith.

Find out more about the impact of our work to spread MedTech Funding Mandate products in our latest Impact Report