The UK tech companies revolutionising healthcare

Sector Insight

The role of technology in healthcare cannot be understated, from devices that help in providing a quicker and more accurate diagnosis, robots capable of performing surgeries, and technologies aimed at improving quality of life, to data management and recruitment platforms. At a time when our healthcare system is under increasing pressure due to rising healthcare needs and an aging population, innovative technology is needed now more than ever.

How technology fits into the 10-Year Health Plan

The 10-Year Health Plan for England sets out the changes that will be made within the NHS in order to deliver better care for all patients, no matter where they live or how much they earn, and to provide better value for taxpayers. The plan includes seizing the opportunities created by new technologies, medicines, and innovations. It will focus on making three big shifts in how the NHS works:

Making more care available near and in patients’ homes,
Utilising new technologies to reduce the admin load on staff and to allow people to manage their own care in the same easy way as they manage their bank accounts or shop online.
Ensuring that they reach patients sooner and that the healthy choice is the easy choice.

As part of the plan, they have identified five transformative technologies in the form of data, AI, genomics, wearables, and robotics that are capable of personalising care, improving outcomes, increasing productivity, and boosting economic growth. The implications for healthcare technology are:

More investment and support for innovations and projects that will be able to prevent disease far in advance. This includes the Generation Study which is sequencing the genomes of 100,000 newborn babies and the unnamed large-scale study that is aiming to sequence the genomes of 150,000 adults in order to explore personalised prevention of obesity.
Increase the use of technologies within the delivery of care. This includes making wearables standard in preventative, chronic, and post-acute NHS treatment by 2035, expanding the adoption of surgical robots, and integrating AI into clinical pathways.
Cover devices, diagnostics, and digital products by the NICE’s technology appraisal process. In addition, NICE will be assigned a new role to identify outdated technologies and therapies that can be removed from the NHS, freeing up resources for investment in more effective ones.

It is clear that in order to reform the NHS into a service that is capable of keeping up and going beyond the continuously increasing level of care needed in this country, technology needs to be harnessed to its full potential.

The way to do this is to provide more support and investment to the tech companies within this space. Steps are being taken in the right direction with multi-year budgets and a new requirement for NHS organisations to reserve at least 3% of annual spend for one-time investments in service transformation, hence assisting with the transition of innovations into practice more quickly. It is hoped that this is a sign of more funding, both public and private, becoming available for these companies as demand and interest increases.

Fundraising activity of UK healthcare companies specialising in technology

Fundraising activity over the past 10 years for healthcare companies who specialise in tech

*Data source: Beauhurst

At the moment, the fundraising activity for these companies shows a hopeful trend over the most recent years.

From the first peak in 2021, the total value of fundraisings decreased by 60% in 2023, despite the number of fundraisings staying around the same level. Seeing an increase of 148%, 2024 saw a near return to the fundraising level seen in 2021, with this level being sustained in 2025. It remains to be seen if 2026 will see a similar level of fundraising raised, but it is encouraging to see that it is already above the amount raised in 2023.

With the initiatives set out in the 10-year Health Plan, there is a possibility that we will see an increase in the funding available, as they will hopefully drive demand and interest in these technologies. If this increase in funding happens, it is possible that we will see more innovative technology being researched and developed and, in time, becoming readily available to those who need it most.

Characteristics of UK healthcare companies specialising in technology

Current stage of evolution for healthcare companies who specialise in tech

*Data source: Beauhurst

Just under half of these companies are in the early start-up stages, seed and venture. While it could be considered a concern that nearly a quarter are either in the dead or zombie stages, it is important to keep in mind that for companies specialising in technology and innovations, one possible end goal is selling the rights to said products to other entities, resulting in a shorter lifespan.

There have been 82 exit events within this sample, with the vast majority (95%) being acquisitions. The average acquisition price was between £7m to £39m. Of all exit events, 82% are classed as good exits, where the company remains actively trading.

*Data source: Beauhurst

While the industry breakdown is in-line with what we would expect, there are two areas we would like to highlight here. The inclusion of mobile apps shows the shift in how we now access healthcare. With many healthcare services being overstretched, more people are turning towards more easily accessible options. Mobile apps can range from services connecting people remotely to therapists or doctors to ones that help people in managing their mental health.

AI is the second area we want to bring into focus here. Though it was first introduced to healthcare in the 1970s, AI has only recently started gaining traction thanks to advanced technology being combined with the extensive collections of patient data. It has a range of applications including processing and synthesising data at a much faster rate than humans, managing repetitive tasks, helping to identify diseases early, and expediting drug discovery.

Company profiles

We will now place the spotlight on five companies operating within the sector.

Limbs & Things

Limbs & Things have been working towards improving patient outcomes since 1990 by providing training tools that are realistic, repeatable, anatomically accurate, and cost effective, which allow students and healthcare professionals to practice procedures safely before they move to performing them on real patients. They were founded by Margot Cooper, a medical artist, who wanted to find a more ethical and accessible way of teaching clinical procedures compared to the traditional medical training that oftens relies on cadavers and animal models. By working in collaboration with doctors and educators, she started the development of realistic training models capable of allowing the repeated practice of medical procedures in a controlled learning environment. They have grown over the past three decades to become a global company who are advancing healthcare education through simulation, with their simulation trainers being used in over 100 countries.

Included in their product line are:

Clinical skills task trainers
Surgical simulation trainers
Laparoscopic training systems
Obstetrics and childbirth simulators
Ultrasound-compatible training models
Procedural training models for emergency and primary care

They are all designed to allow students and clinicians to first build up their confidence and improve their competence in the procedures before treating real patients. These trainers have been developed through iterative testing, clinician feedback, and academic collaboration, with several of them being evaluated through clinical education research. This is all to ensure that they meet the needs of healthcare educators and are effective in supporting learning outcomes.

Since last year, Limbs & Things have released several new training tools, including:

Microvascular Anastomosis Trainer: A microsurgical training jig with tri-layered 3mm diameter arterial blood vessels that allows surgeons and trainees to develop their suturing ability and the skills related to a variety of microvascular anastomoses techniques such as end-to-end, end-to-side, or side-to-side. The trainer comes in a compact and portable box that allows for personalised set up wherever and whenever it is needed.
Cardiovascular and Respiratory Examination Trainer (CaRE): Aimed at increasing students’ confidence in their auscultation technique while using their own stethoscope, this patented simulation training model features patented synchronised pulses, realistic heart and lung sounds, and dynamic chest movement. It also has a Lesson Plan mode that allows instructors to integrate it into their lessons through pre-saving common scenarios for students to work through. Additionally, this mode has a ‘notes’ feature that allows instructors to add comments or instructions to each section. By the end of 2025, the CaRE trainer model had been sold in 37 countries.
Arterial Puncture Wrist Trainer: This trainer allows students to practice all the steps involved in arterial blood gas (ABG) sampling, one of the most frequently conducted tests across intensive care units. The model has several features, including lifelike wrist flexibility, palpable landmarks, and pre-set blood pressure and pulse rates, that all aid in getting the student familiar with the feeling of handling patients and recognising different representations. The trainer also produces a realistic image when used with existing equipment so that students can practice conducting ultrasounds. Another feature is its ability to self-fill a heparinized needle upon successful entry to the artery, mimicking real procedures. Students can also use it to practice the Seldinger technique and gain full procedural competency as the model is compatible with a range of cannulas.
Female Breast Overlay: Made to address the under-representation of gender within simulation, this overlay is fitted with adjustable straps that allows for it to be attached to existing manikins so that educators and trainees can incorporate the treatment of women in their medical training.

During last year, they revealed that they officially received ISO 9001 certification, which is the globally recognised standard for Quality Management. The certification is in recognition of their processes meeting the globally recognised standards for consistency, performance, and continual improvement.

Oxford Medical Simulation

Oxford Medical Simulation (OMS) are combining clinical virtual reality (VR) training simulations with AI, analytics, and hands-on partnerships to help learners develop the skills and mindset necessary to provide consistently world-class patient management. Nearly 10 years ago, OMS was founded by a team of clinicians who had a joint mission of filling the gaps between education and experience, training and performance, and onboarding and excellence. Since then, they have had real impact with their platform as 89% of learners report that OMS improved their daily practice at the 3-months mark and that the platform has led to a 60% reduction in medication errors.

Their VR platform allows for the delivery of immersive, flexible simulations capable of strengthening users’ competence and confidence. As it can run in either VR or on screen, compatible with both Mac and Windows, learners can train wherever suits them. Trainers are given the tools needed to build programmes that can be instantly rolled out, in-line with standardised assessments, require no facilitator input thanks to AI-driven scenarios, and have the capacity to scale without needing increased faculty bandwidth or more resources.

Each simulation supports learners of all levels, where they have to think, communicate and act in changing environments. There are simulations to cover environments like the emergency department, the clinic, home, and inpatient. The simulations have AI-driven communication, which is used for patient and team interactions, to build empathy and confidence in students. They also facilitate teamwork through their collaborative, multi-learner scenarios. Learners are able to develop their clinical reasoning, decision making, critical thinking, and prioritisation skills while under realistic pressure. Alongside this, they can build up accuracy and muscle memory related to procedural and psychomotor skills through the use of precision hand controls and haptic feedback. They receive instant feedback once the simulation is complete in the form of integrated scenario debriefs, that reinforce reflection and retention while highlighting where repeat practice is needed.

OMS Create is the platform that allows users to build and customise scenarios that are in line with their curriculum goals, population needs, care models, learning goals, and institutional processes.

Revealed last year was their next generation of OMS scenarios, OMS Hands & Voices. By integrating a fully voice-controlled experience, hand controls, and AI technology together, they have created scenarios centred around multitasking communication and hands-on care that help users to develop both psychomotor and communication skills. They deliver enhanced realism and immersion thanks to the use of voice and hand controls as they bring the scenarios closer to real-life clinical practice. Learners are better prepared for real-world patient interactions, with improvements to their focus and critical thinking.

They announced earlier this year that they had secured £5m in growth financing from the UK-based investment firm Salica Investments. The purpose of the funding is to continue furthering the presence of OMS in US health systems and academic institutions, to invest in the innovation of products like AI-driven scenarios, learning analytics, and workflow tools, and to scale the necessary infrastructure for safer delivery and more effective clinical training.

They recently released the findings of the DEVICE Study, run by the Diabetes Team at NHS England, that utilised scenarios jointly created by OMS and the clinical project team. The study was in response to a known challenge facing many UK healthcare institutions, namely that high staff turnover and a limited pool of specialist diabetes clinicians are causing difficulties in preparing junior and non-specialist doctors for diabetes-related emergencies. Equally, concerns have been raised by patients with type 1 diabetes about the level of confidence and preparedness that hospital staff have, especially during emergency admissions.

DEVICE (Diabetes Emergencies: Virtual Interactive Clinical Education) has been run across the University Hospital Southampton and Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth with participants including 39 junior doctors, core medical trainees, and doctors in training in Internal Medicine, Acute Care, and Advanced Clinical Practitioners. They all completed four immersive clinical simulations with two on hyperglycaemia and two on hypoglycaemia, where they treat virtual patients as they would in reality by completing assessments, formulating clinical management plans, and implementing their treatment decisions as well as monitoring and adjusting in response to the patient’s physiological response to their interventions.

The study revealed that:

All participants rated the scenarios suitable for their level of practice.
They all stated that the scenarios would improve their daily clinical practice.
Nearly three-quarters (72%) anticipate applying what they learnt within a week of completing the course, with 100% saying the same for within three months.
Mean trainee confidence in managing DKA (8-point Likert scale) had a statistically significant increase of 28%, rising from 3.92 to 5.41.

One of the most notable findings was that the study demonstrated Kirkpatrick Level 3 outcomes, showcasing that retention goes beyond knowledge gain and bridges the gap to practice through behavioural change.

C the Signs

On a mission to change the course of cancer by making early cancer detection the norm, C the Signs are using AI to detect cancer at the earliest and most curable stage through a platform built upon thousands of validated data points. To date, they have detected cancer in over 70,000 patients, with more than 100 types of cancers detected and with referral times under 60 seconds. They were founded by Dr Bea Bakshi and Dr Miles Payling who saw firsthand, during their work as clinicians in the NHS, the pain caused by late diagnosis but also the joy caused when it is caught early. Unfortunately, the tools they had at the time were not designed to detect cancer early. This is why they decided to make their own, using real-time data, evidence-based pathways and AI. They’re now taking their vision global, while keeping the NHS values of care, equity, and access for all at the centre of their work, so that early detection becomes possible for all.

C the Signs are reaching patients before cancer does. They do so by identifying high-risk patients through the analysis of electronic health records by using AI, across both tumour-specific and pan-cancer models. Patients are then given tailored risk assessments and those at elevated risk are connected to the correct care pathway.

Their platform identifies rare, complex, or vague cancer presentations, recommends personalised investigations or referrals in line with national and local guidelines, and draws upon over 1,000 validated sigs, symptoms, and risk factors, all in under 60 seconds. The platform receives inputs in the form of symptoms, risk factors, concerns or test results. In seconds, it analyses these inputs through validated pathways, clinical research, and guideline recommendations. It then outputs a clear suggestion either for a referral, a specific text, or a safe next step based on this analysis. The platform is capable of adapting to local systems and needs, and is customisable by cancer type, population risk, and available diagnostic services.

For clinicians, the platform is designed to easily integrate into electronic health record systems, allowing them to assess cancer risk and refer patients within 60 seconds. The platform predicts tumour origin and provides guidance on the best diagnostic or specialist, giving clinicians clarity and patients the care they need as soon as they need it.

For patients, the platform gives them more power and autonomy as it allows them to assess their cancer risk from home and, in most cases, book necessary diagnostic tests directly without the need of a doctor’s visit. The assessments within the platform are guided by AI in order to give patients the support needed to act early and on their own terms.

At the end of last year, they announced the rollout of C the Signs across Northamptonshire thanks to the partnership between Northamptonshire ICB and the East Midlands Cancer Alliance. It is in response to strong demand from Primary Care clinicians who are seeking additional support in identifying cancer earlier and clearer guidance with hard-to-interpret symptoms.

At the inaugural C the Signs Conference last year, Dr Miles Payling closed his message by talking about the newly implemented Jess’s Rule. The rule is in honour of Jessica Brady. Her symptoms were subtle, persistent and easy to misinterpret and, despite numerous visits to her doctor, her cancer was unfortunately found too late. The rule is a safeguard within the C the Signs platform that gently alerts clinicians when a patient has returned multiple times with unresolved symptoms. It will then prompt a timely cancer risk assessment. While a small change, it will ensure that no patient goes overlooked and that no pattern is missed due to symptoms being subtle.

SIMFONIK

SIMFONIK are transforming empathy training through their audio-first immersive simulation platform. The company was built upon research for the multi-award-winning artwork named Within Touching Distance, which synchronises immersive technology with human touch while showcasing the real-life journey of a patient. The project was awarded the Inclusive Innovation Award by Innovate UK and was presented as a prime example of how arts and XR innovation can work together to change healthcare at the Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology. By continuing their research and development in partnership with healthcare professionals and patients, they founded SIMFONIK.

SIMFONIK’s platform uses lightweight technology, guided role-play, and spatial sound to deliver emotionally impactful training in the form of scenario-based experiences with the aim to help participants develop their empathy, and communication and decision-making skills. Participants experience the scenarios in pairs, with each participant being assigned a different audio track that are aligned to a share narrative. The platform is capable of supporting up to 250 simultaneous users as they explore the simulation scenarios that reflect real patient perspectives while under real-world pressure. Each scenario is followed by a guided reflection and structured debrief sessions that can be both peer-to-peer and large groups.

To show the impact of SIMFONIK, they have run five feasibility studies that have included over 500 healthcare professionals across the UK, Brazil and India. The results speak for themselves:

93% of learners saw their ability to communicate with empathy improve.
After a single session, empathy scores increased to 8.7 from 6.8, a 22% increase.
Participants saw their real-world behaviour change after as little as 90 minutes of simulation.

The other main advantages for the platform include:

Low cost: The platform requires no simulation suites, specialist equipment or infrastructure, and has the added benefit of supporting tariff recovery.
Scalable: Even though it only requires one facilitator, it is able to support mass participation, working across large numbers, class sizes, and disciplines.
Data-driven: Includes built-in automated tracking, outcomes, and NHS tariff compliant reporting allow for ease of access to Government funding.
Adaptable for Facilitators: Learning questions can be edited within the app, allowing for the training to be tailored for each group, thanks to the Facilitator.

SIMFONIK was notably used by 100 healthcare students and educators late last year, in collaboration with Brazilian simulation experts. It will also be rolled out across the University of Salford and Oxford Brookes University. Additionally, they were a finalist for Best in Health & Wellness at the Games for Change Festival 2025.

Univa Health

Univa Health are leading the way for a universal healthcare structure capable of allowing anyone, no matter where or who they are, access to high-quality care for eating disorders through their own chosen channel without having to endure a long wait. They were founded by a team of two in 2024. Rich Andrews (CEO) has over twenty years of healthcare experience and has continued to be passionate about solving the main pain points in healthcare. While leading his first health tech company, Healios, which he founded in 2012, he became increasingly aware of the growing number of referrals his company was receiving for disordered eating challenges. The need for a company capable of taking on the complexity of eating disorder conditions is what led to him founding Univa. He was joined by Jose Santos (CTO), a serial entrepreneur and tech leader who has been designing innovative health solutions for eleven years. Before Univa, he co-founded the MedTech company Indivi. Their main offering is dreaMS, one of the first CE-approved digital biomarkers software capable of helping people with Multiple Sclerosis and their neurologists with tracking and managing their condition.

Univa are providing specialist support to children, teenagers, and young adults (aged 12 to 25-years-old) experiencing anorexia or restrictive eating behaviours linked to weight loss, whether they have a formal diagnosis or not. Currently, their support is only available for both the person struggling with an eating disorder and their chosen support person, whether that be a parent, trusted adult, partner, or carer. They take part in the sessions and receive digital support together in order to build the shared understanding, confidence, and practical skills necessary for meaningful progress.

Their main offering is the Univa Care App, which provides a personal space for understanding how their eating disorder works, building up their motivation, and developing the skills needed for their recovery. The app includes three virtual avatars to choose from, Emily, Alex, Amina, who act as a recovery companion. They help to keep the user on track for their recovery journey and provide regular check-ins. Their recovery journey is visualised in the app as a therapeutic garden, where each seed represents a new skill or habit. As modules and exercises are completed, the garden will grow with each unique plant representing resilience, flexibility, and self-compassion.

They offer three different options for support. Univa Essentials is their app-only option, which provides a structure self-care plan over the course of 20-weeks through two connected apps. For the one seeking help, the app provides a guided pathway designed to teach the user how to manage unhelpful thoughts effectively, build-up their self-esteem, improve their body image, and rebuild their relationship with food in a positive way. The app also contains modules that help the user to explore who they are beyond their eating disorder so that they can rediscover their confidence, motivation, and hope for recovery. Their chosen support person will go through their own 20-week programme which will involve learning practical tools for meal support, communication, and relapse prevention as well as self-care strategies for manging their own stress and emotions. Both have access to videos made by clinicians and people with lived experience.

Univa Comfort has everything included in the Essentials tier and a secure in-app messaging service that connects them with a member of the Univa Care Team. This gives them regular access to expert support whenever they need it. A member of the Univa Care Team aims to reply back within one to two working days. For the one struggling, they provide calm, compassionate feedback and timely support. For their support person, they can contact the care team for practical advice on how to provide the best everyday support.

Univa Therapy is designed to provide understanding about the eating disorder, improve communication, and facilitate both parties working together on the road to lasting recovery. The therapy is delivered in 50-minute online sessions with experienced eating disorder specialists, who are either psychologists, therapists, or mental health nurses. Each session is tailored to the individual’s needs and their family situation. They can be booked on a pay-as-you-go basis and can run alongside the individual’s NHS care.

Near the end of last year, they launched the primary care pilot with a leading UK eating disorder charity, First Steps ED. By using the Univa Care Platform, the pilot will deliver faster and more tailored support for young people with early-stage eating disorders. Families will have the choice between digital-first intervention, that can be started immediately, and blended care that offers extra clinical sessions supplied by First Steps ED with the digital programme. This will be a one-year pilot directly embedded into primary care as this is the first point of contact for many families. It is hoped that by offering this support at an early stage, it will reduce waiting times, prevent escalation into crisis, and relieve pressure on overstretched secondary care services. They are backed by six NHS Primary Care Networks (PCNs) in Hertfordshire.

We always recommend that you seek advice from a suitably qualified adviser before taking any action. The information on this page is intended as a general guide only. While we work to keep our content accurate and up to date, we cannot guarantee that it reflects the position at the time you are reading it. No responsibility for loss occasioned by any person acting or refraining from action as a result of this material can be accepted by the authors or the firm. For more information on our editorial process, click here.

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