NHS Digital continues its quest to focus resources on pushing primary and secondary care into the digital age, but can it actually be done? Challenged by a reliance on systems created for specific roles, a lack of interoperability and vast estate of people and technology; moving to the digital age has been a massive headache for the NHS.
Yet the NHS must create efficiencies. It faces a testing future from tackling extensive staffing vacancies and enhancing employee morale, as well as external influences – increased demand on services from an aging population, more complexity of needs for patients and an ongoing requirement to be more cost-effective, but faster.
NHS and the Digital Battle
Digital reliance has never been so important, but succeeding it is a very different matter. The time involved in moving to electronic processes and new systems, as well as the eye-watering cost, means it will be some years before the NHS will realise any significant benefit from a digital era.
Despite this, the focus on the digital ecosystem pushes forward. The sector agrees on the advantages, with digitalisation delivering better services for patients, which is fundamental to the future of the NHS.
Utilising digital solutions to increase the knowledge of staff is central to this goal, ensuring front line staff have swift access to knowledge banks, critical systems and patients notes. Part of this comes down to mobility, reducing the need for medical staff to hunt around for a computer. Staff will equally be more attracted to work in a digitally enhanced NHS, reducing the frustration of being restricted by archaic systems.
Delivering on Digital Promises
Many of the STP plans across England have identified the importance of digital solutions, many focusing on a more joined up, shared approach to ensuring the success of these systems.
If digitalisation is to be achieved, key elements must be considered:
1. Build on existing systems – do not rip out what you don’t need to. Look at where you can enhance existing systems to invest budgets wisely.
2. Work together – build collaborations between trusts. Systems are going to have work together, so make sure from the outset that those systems will connect.
3. Understand your goal – what does a digital NHS look like? Build your plan backwards to understand the steps needed to get to your goal.
4. Secure – maintaining a robust identity and access management system will underpin all other digital work. Keep it safe and ensure control over who has access to what.
The NHS can achieve digital efficiency, but the road ahead is not an easy path. There will be difficult decisions to make but the focus must remain on the end goal. Technology and resources investment must match what is needed to achieve these goals and to future-proof systems. The future for the NHS can be bright, but only with digitalisation fit for tomorrow.