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Introduction and implementation of new technologies

Scottish Health Technologies Group

The Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG) is an advisory body set up by the Scottish Government Health Directorates (SGHD). SHTG was established to provide assistance to NHSScotland boards when considering the introduction of new technologies recommended by NICE and other international HTA organisations. SHTG provides evidence on the clinical and cost effectiveness of existing and new technologies likely to have significant implications for patient care in Scotland. This evidence should support the planning and decision making processes in NHS boards. Group members can request appraisals of evidence and then consider whether the evidence generalises to Scotland. SHTG does not make recommendations.

This link opens in new browser window; you are now leaving the NHS QIS website. Download the Scottish Health Technologies Group flyer (PDF, 1MB, 2mins 29secs)

Group meetings

SHTG is chaired by SGHD and members include territorial and special NHS boards, health economists and lay representatives.

SHTG publications

Horizon scanning report of evidence based assessments

SHTG receive a quarterly report of technologies that will have significant implications for patient care in Scotland. It summarises evidence of clinical and cost effectiveness available in:

NICE technology appraisals
outputs from our health technology assessment programme
and other UK and international health technology assessments.

From this report, SHTG will:

select technologies to further research the clinical and cost effectiveness evidence
provide advice on implementation
provide costing tools, including clinical and resource impact .

In these cases SHTG can request further detailed work from NHS QIS and National Procurement in the form of Evidence Notes and clinical and resource impact reports.

Get SHTG Evidence-based assessment reports

Evidence Notes

Evidence Notes may be requested on particular topics or clinical areas where SHTG judge more evidence is required. Evidence Notes do not make recommendations; they are short summaries which highlight key issues for decision makers within NHSScotland and direct them to robust sources of evidence (or lack of evidence). Evidence Notes take approximately 3 months to produce from approval of the topic.

Get evidence notes

Clinical and resource impact reports

These reports provide estimates of the resources and costs required at national and NHS board levels to implement key evidence-based recommendations. The starting point is to identify the changes required from the current pathway and the related resources required to implement and operate the new pathway.

Get clinical and resource impact reports

Get details of all our current SHTG projects

SHTG remit

Horizon scanning
To identify existing and new non-drug technologies, including new devices which are likely to have significant implications for patient care in NHSScotland, and areas where there may be evidence to support disinvestment.

Assessment and appraisal
To ensure that assessment and appraisal of the effectiveness of such technologies is carried out as needed, taking account of assessment and appraisal work being carried out both nationally and internationally, eg the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH).

Facilitating implementation and dissemination
To facilitate the implementation by NHSScotland of key evidence-based recommendations on technologies made in This link opens in new browser window; you are now leaving the NHS QIS website. SIGN guidelines, NHS QIS health technology assessments and NICE technology appraisals.

SHTG processes

SHTG processes involve NHS boards, clinicians, manufacturers and public partners:

NHS boards – information on topics of interest, to include disinvestment opportunities, are sought from NHS boards and regional planning groups
Clinicians – interested clinicians are identified to advise and work on appraisals
Manufacturers – may be asked to provide information to NHS QIS and National Procurement as part of their standard procedures.
Public partners – topics suggested by NHS boards are informed by their ongoing relationship with the public and patients