As the National Health Service reaches its 70th birthday, many are reflecting on its achievements and growth over the last seven decades. Yet, the NHS must focus on its IT strategy as it heads into a new decade and continues to face unique challenges from a changing population.
For the NHS to adapt and serve patients effectively, it must focus on core IT priorities that will enable it to succeed.
Top 7 IT Priorities for a New NHS Decade
- Collaboration
For decades many NHS organisations created barriers to interconnections; believing they could be most effective if operating in isolation. Yet, despite autonomy in controlling their environments, patient care suffered as a result. For some time, NHS organisations have been trying to rectify this, joining up to provide consistent care through sharing of knowledge and resources.It has become a core goal of most Trusts to enhance collaboration across primary and secondary care. IT plays a pivotal role in this strategy, enabling those important connections. - Cost reduction
Central to pretty much every NHS organisation – how to do things better, at a lower cost. The NHS has been judged for inefficiencies and financial wastage, but it is important to recognise the difference between investment and eliminating waste. It is not simply about spending less; investing in IT to enhance systems will drive cost efficiencies. - Automation
Part of these cost reductions will come as a result of increased automation; minimising the manual administration toil caused by systems not interlinking. BDS’ Directory Manager enables automation, for example, between the ESR, NHSmail and Active Directory, enabling an automated and robust method to ensure data is accurate, as well as removing the administration burden.As more automation is driven across the NHS, staff can use data to be more effective and administration time waste is eradicated. - Digital efficiencies
The NHS is invested in increasing digitalisation, with the central organisation NHS Digital tasked with ‘using digital technology to transform the NHS and social care’. Further digital IT strategies will be fundamental to the next decade. - Knowledge-centred approach
With a wealth of information, the NHS has spent years working toward digitalising data and improving access to knowledge-based systems. Utilising this data to improve patient care, provide more personalised experiences and better working practices for employees, is critical for the NHS to gain public trust. - Mobility
Flexible working from any location has dramatically changed how people work. The NHS is no different to any business, IT that enables access to critical patient data or knowledge systems whilst medical employees are treating patients is critical for effective treatment and staff motivation. Technology devices have enabled much more flexibility in how the NHS can deliver services and should be embraced. - Security
Last but by no means least, security in this digital world is fundamental. Ensuring systems, technology, and critically, patient data is protected from the risks of cyber attacks or malicious use is a top priority to protect business-as-usual and NHS reputation.
NHS at 80
With the rate of innovation and change in the world, the NHS may look very different on its 80th birthday. The next decade will be pivotal for digitalisation and investment should be made to achieve core strategic IT goals. Focus on collaboration, cost reduction, automation, digital efficiencies, knowledge-centred approach, mobility and security, will be critical to a healthy NHS as it reaches the ripe age of 80.
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