There is something flat and uneasy about the conversations about the future of the NHS.
It’s something like the fog of a collective trauma response.
Unpacking the Westminster Health Forum
The latest Westminster Health Forum event offered a crucial look into the challenges of reducing NHS elective waiting lists.
Discussions revealed that while the NHS has seen successes in cutting waiting times, these efforts often rely on tried-and-tested methods. What was missing, however, was genuine innovation.
The Role of Technology
A surprising takeaway was the lack of emphasis on technology. Despite the Government’s goal to deliver 40,000 additional health appointments weekly, technology’s potential role in this ambition was barely discussed. Digital solutions could offer much-needed efficiency in scheduling and patient management, yet they remain largely untapped in current strategies.
Recent examples at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Foundation Trust and Medway NHS Foundation Trust show how technology can improve productivity and patient experience.
Teletracking UK bed management technology helps reduce waiting times in Emergency Departments, frees up clinicians and improves patient flow.
Integrating Prevention into the Conversation
Prevention as a method to reduce demand should be key to NHS strategy. However, the event highlighted a tendency to silo preventive measures away from regular operations and backlog work. A more integrated approach could see preventive health measures actively reducing demand and lightening the load on elective services.
There are plenty of examples at local and system level where prevention reduces pressure on the frontline. Primary Care Networks have been using digital technology in coaching and behaviour change, the result has been fewer GP appointments.
Fresh Thinking is Essential
Transforming the NHS requires fresh thinking and bold ideas. Simply allocating more funds to traditional solutions has contributed to the current challenges facing the NHS. It’s time to think outside the box and explore new avenues for systemic change.
In the same way the Government is focussing on planning reform to boost the house-building sector, we need a new approach to co-designing digital transformation.
This, with a clear understanding of the care models required to create a truly Neighbourhood Health Service, would unlock innovation and remove many of the barriers that prevent it from scaling.
As always, nothing will change until something changes.
Shape the future of health and care
As the Government seeks public, patient, staff and partner views on the future of the NHS, it is a crucial time for digital health and care providers to help shape future policy.
The Digital Healthcare Council (DHC) is the voice of digital health and care in Westminster.
If you are looking to grow your business in the NHS, then DHC provides the access, knowledge and networks.
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