The NHS is still lagging behind in fully leveraging technology, hindering productivity and patient care, stated health care expert Lord Darzi in the Independent Investigation of the National Health Service in England review.
However, Lord Darzi has offered solutions and identified technology that can be utilised within the NHS to improve productivity and care. These suggestions included:
Data Integration
Currently, data from NHS Trusts and other healthcare settings, such as community care, are independent of each other.
“While there are some examples of breakthroughs, the NHS has struggled with data sharing to support higher quality care,” said Lord Darzi.
The NHS is still lagging behind in fully leveraging technology, hindering productivity and patient care
He suggested that data integration could enable a shift in the model from ‘diagnose and treat’ to ‘predict and prevent’, allowing clinicians to make better-informed decisions.
Digital tools
Lord Darzi emphasised his point of the NHS utilising technology to shift from treatment to prevention by identifying digital tools as a way to do this.
He pointed out that digital tools – scalable digital interventions – could help in areas, such as mental health and community care, to reduce pressure on physical services and improve outcomes.
It is encouraging to see the recognition of underinvestment in digital transformation
Information technology continues to focus on acute hospitals, revealed the review, and Lord Darzi emphasised that other healthcare providers need to be included to improve overall care.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
“We are on the precipice of an AI revolution that could transform care for patients," said Lord Darzi.
A submission from the Royal College of Radiologists to the review showed that 56% NHS Trusts are already using AI tools within radiology, as included in the report.
Lord Darzi identified that while the NHS has adopted technology in certain aspects of care, “from virtual wards to remote dermatology consultations, it has not radically reshaped services"
But Lord Darzi stated that the “NHS could be at the forefront of this revolution with NHS patients the first to see the benefits,” but to “capture those opportunities, there will need to be a fundamental tilt towards technology”.
The overall findings in the NHS and technology
Overall, Lord Darzi identified that while the NHS has adopted technology in certain aspects of care, “from virtual wards to remote dermatology consultations, it has not radically reshaped services", and there needs to be a focus on digitisation to improve productivity and care.
However, Lord Darzi also highlighted that the digitisation of the NHS needs significant investment, policy shifts, and a long-term plan to drive real digital transformation.
What do the health tech experts think?
Egress Group:
Egress Group is a UK-based end-to-end data management solutions company that provides data management services to organisations across the UK including the NHS.
Darren Goode, Chief Technology Officer at Egress Group, picked up on Lord Darzi’s point that funding is needed for a digital transformation of the NHS and suggested that access to data and data integration will lead to the NHS utilising AI.
"Acknowledging that the NHS is in the ‘foothills of digital transformation’ ahead of the Autumn Budget hopefully paves the way for further funding and a step-change in how service providers adopt and scale technology in partnership with industry," Goode said.
And to truly pivot to preventative care as Lord Darzi sets out in the report, service providers need real-time access to this data in the right context
"But what does it mean for existing initiatives such as the Frontline Digitisation Programme? While change is welcomed, we must not reinvent the wheel and lose momentum in achieving universal digital maturity," Goode added.
"These transformation projects create the right infrastructure for safe and effective data integration that surfaces information for clinical, operational, financial, and research purposes," Goode continued.
"And to truly pivot to preventative care as Lord Darzi sets out in the report, service providers need real-time access to this data in the right context. Only then will embracing innovations like AI also deliver its potential," Goode explained.
"With NHS data ‘largely untapped’, there needs to be a move to working with data partners that can provide end-to-end support in surfacing the information for these different purposes, whether it is for clinical outcomes or enterprise resource planning. If the report’s ambitious recommendations are to be met, it is time we started thinking differently about data," Goode concluded.
Access Health, Support and Care (HSC):
Access HSC is a UK-based provider of software for health, local Government and care organisations across the UK.
Steve Sawyer, Managing Director of Access HSC, agreed that funding is a key issue in hindering the digital transformation of the NHS and said greater data integration is needed.
"It is encouraging to see the recognition of underinvestment in digital transformation and the importance of shifting care closer to home by hardwiring financial flows to enable primary, mental health, and community services to expand," Sawyer said.
With the Autumn Budget imminent, the hope is that the much-needed change and investment signalled by Lord Darzi will be recognised in the coming weeks
"This will make significant inroads in addressing the overall success of the integrated care agenda. With the strong emphasis on technology as a driver for change, the review signals a positive evolution in scaling interoperable digital tools that tackle patient flow and help prevent people from entering acute settings," Sawyer explained.
"We often see the benefits of IT being siloed and, in some cases, duplicated, yet the advantages of industry partners that span the care continuum – which is yet to be truly utilised – includes delivering a much more integrated ecosystem that delivers greater value and outputs from technology," Sawyer added.
"With the Autumn Budget imminent, the hope is that the much-needed change and investment signalled by Lord Darzi will be recognised in the coming weeks" Sawyer concluded.
Stalis:
With more than 35 years of experience, Stalis, part of the Egress Group, provides data migration and data archive services to the NHS.
For, Kate Bryan, Managing Director of Stalis, Lord Darzi’s point about data integration stood out as a good solution that would enable the transition from ‘diagnose and treat’ to ‘predict and prevent'.
"The review paints a stark picture of the NHS and digital transformation. However, it should be welcomed as a positive move to tackle the challenges head-on, especially the ‘tilt to technology,’" Bryan said.
And while Wes Streeting’s ten-year plan can set out the long-term roadmap, action needs to be taken in the short term
"And while Wes Streeting’s ten-year plan can set out the long-term roadmap, action needs to be taken in the short term. These practical changes must focus on data integration and sharing as it fundamentally underpins the ambitions to move from ‘diagnose and treat’ to ‘predict and prevent’," Bryan continued.
"Surfacing innovations like AI is the right approach and relies on good quality data to deliver the best outcomes. However, there are systemic problems with siloed data that must be tackled first," Bryan added.
"ICBs need to be empowered to do this, with the help of specialised data partners and the commitment from the Government through adequate funding and guidance," Bryan concluded.
Damibu:
Damibu is a UK-based digital technology studio dedicated that is known for undertaking projects that provide social value.
Dave Burrows, CEO of Damibu, highlighted how technology can be used to solve the healthcare inequalities Lord Darzi revealed in the review.
"The review rightly addresses the need to tackle health inequalities and help ensure ethnic minorities, the most deprived communities and hard-to-reach groups receive the best care possible," Burrows said.
Current approaches often strip away cultural context entirely in an attempt to be universal, resulting in content that fails to resonate with many communities
"While shocking to read about the significant variation in accessing services, such as maternity care, unfortunately, for those working in this space, it is well-documented," Burrows added.
"There is no silver bullet for resolving these multi-faceted issues, however, for many, there are small improvements that can make a big difference. The lack of diversity in NHS self-care information is outdated and counterproductive," Burrows explained.
"Current approaches often strip away cultural context entirely in an attempt to be universal, resulting in content that fails to resonate with many communities. In today's digital age, it is both feasible and cost-effective to use digital platforms and apps to create multiple variations of health information tailored to different cultures and regions," Burrows further explained.
"This approach can significantly improve engagement and health outcomes for diverse populations. Now is the opportune time for the Government to champion these modern, inclusive approaches to health information," Burrows continued.
"By empowering service providers to adopt and scale culturally responsive digital solutions, we can make meaningful progress in addressing the health inequalities highlighted in the Review and ensure that vital health information reaches and resonates with all communities," Burrows concluded.
- Companies:
- NHS England
- Stalis
- Egress Software Technologies
- Department of Health and Social Care
- Damibu
