Boost secures NHS contract to expand access to innovative breast forms across Northern Ireland
Patient-led innovation Boost has secured a major NHS procurement contract that will make its innovative breast forms available across all five Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland, marking a significant milestone in the company’s mission to give more women greater choice following breast surgery.
The contract means hospitals across Belfast, Northern, South Eastern, Southern and Western Health and Social Care Trusts will now be able to procure Boost products, helping to increase access to personalised alternatives to traditional silicone breast prostheses for women who may benefit from a different option.
For founder Samantha Jackman, the achievement represents the culmination of a journey that began not in a research laboratory or hospital, but at home.
After Samantha’s mother underwent a mastectomy, she witnessed first-hand the limited options available to women following breast surgery. While traditional prostheses worked well for many people, they didn’t meet everyone’s needs. Determined to create something different, Samantha worked alongside women with lived experience of breast cancer, members of the trans community and others who use breast shaping products to co-design an alternative that prioritises comfort, confidence and choice.
Today, that patient-led innovation is reaching more women than ever before.
“We’re absolutely delighted to have secured this contract because it means we can get more Boost products to women who might need them. That’s always been our mission. Traditional prostheses are the right choice for many women, but they aren’t right for everyone. Until Boost came along there wasn’t a great deal of choice available. This contract means women across Northern Ireland will have access to another option, giving them greater choice to find what works best for them.”
“We’re absolutely delighted to have secured this contract because it means we can get more Boost products to women who might need them. That’s always been our mission. Traditional prostheses are the right choice for many women, but they aren’t right for everyone. Until Boost came along there wasn’t a great deal of choice available. This contract means women across Northern Ireland will have access to another option, giving them greater choice to find what works best for them.”
The announcement follows years of investment to prepare the business for NHS adoption. Since founding the company in 2018, Boost has expanded its manufacturing capabilities with a new headquarters in Cornwall, invested in UK-based production and grown its team to support implementation across NHS organisations. Those foundations have enabled the company to confidently bid for larger NHS procurement opportunities while maintaining its commitment to sustainable manufacturing and close collaboration with the communities it serves.
The Northern Ireland opportunity was first identified through the NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA), where Samantha is a Fellow. Early notification from the programme gave Boost valuable time to prepare its tender submission and navigate the complexities of NHS procurement.
“One of the biggest benefits of being part of the NIA is having people looking out for opportunities like this. As a small business, you don’t have the time or resource to monitor every procurement portal, and they can be incredibly difficult to navigate. Being alerted early gave us the time to understand the process properly and put together the strongest application we could.”
“One of the biggest benefits of being part of the NIA is having people looking out for opportunities like this. As a small business, you don’t have the time or resource to monitor every procurement portal, and they can be incredibly difficult to navigate. Being alerted early gave us the time to understand the process properly and put together the strongest application we could.”
Samantha also credits the NIA with helping Boost bridge the gap between a grassroots, patient-led business and the complexities of working within the NHS.
“We didn’t come from a clinical background, we came from listening to women and co-designing products around what they actually wanted. The NIA has helped us bridge that gap between grassroots innovation and working successfully with NHS organisations. It’s given us the confidence, knowledge and connections to navigate a healthcare system that speaks a completely different language.”
“We didn’t come from a clinical background, we came from listening to women and co-designing products around what they actually wanted. The NIA has helped us bridge that gap between grassroots innovation and working successfully with NHS organisations. It’s given us the confidence, knowledge and connections to navigate a healthcare system that speaks a completely different language.”
The next phase of the contract will see Boost work closely with hospitals across Northern Ireland to support implementation and raise awareness of the additional options now available to patients.
While the company already works with a growing number of NHS trusts across England through fitting clinics, training and local implementation programmes, the Northern Ireland contract marks its first nationwide procurement agreement outside England and represents an important step towards improving access across the UK.
Looking ahead, Samantha hopes the milestone will help even more women benefit from greater choice following breast surgery.
“For years we’ve worked directly with women who have told us how much having another option has improved their comfort and confidence. We’re incredibly proud that more women will now be able to access that choice through the NHS, and we’re excited to continue working with hospitals across the UK to make that possible.”
“For years we’ve worked directly with women who have told us how much having another option has improved their comfort and confidence. We’re incredibly proud that more women will now be able to access that choice through the NHS, and we’re excited to continue working with hospitals across the UK to make that possible.”
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