The government’s plans to change NHS Trusts to Foundation Trusts could stifle innovation in construction, delegates to a Construction Industry Computing Association conference last month were warned.

In Foundation Trusts, power is devolved to local boards. And since local people – often politicians – will be making the decisions, they may be less willing to take risks, said Keith Sammonds, operations director for Healthcare Facilities Consortium which provides IT products and services.

So while ProCure 21 and NHS Lift aim to encourage innovation in building, NHS Trusts may prefer safe traditional solutions.