Speaking at the NHS Confederation annual conference, Lansley said innovation had always been "at the heart of the NHS".
The controversial 111 non emergency service, which is set to replace NHS Direct, wasn't about a system that could identify a caller's location and link them to the right call handler, said Lansley.
"The essence of it is the ability not only to put a directory of services behind the call, but joined up flexible, responsive services that mean we have got a much more effective urgent care system that delivers the right care at the right place at the right time."
It was a service that delivered both savings and improvements in quality. "The essence of it isn't really the technology," he said.
Similarly he said the mass rollout of telehealth and telecare systems, set to benefit three million people, was about improving services.
It would allow NHS patients with long term conditions to move away from an "episodic" relationship where they went to their GP if they had a problem or to the emergency department if they had a "crisis".
"Through telehealth it's not just the technology, it's the ability to redesign the service in order to innovate and deliver improving care," he said.
"It's absolutely essential we adopt service innovation."
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Quelle/Source: Public Service, 21.06.2012
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