89%. That’s how many medics say they don’t have access to the necessary IT equipment to do their jobs properly.
Outdated hardware, systems that don’t talk to each other, patchy WiFi - these basic issues are hindering the ability of healthcare staff to deliver care effectively and efficiently.
Add to the mix crumbling buildings and clinical spaces that aren’t fit for purpose, and it’s no wonder staff across the NHS are crying out for modern, high-functioning workplaces.
A glimmer of light came this month when the government announced its £102m pledge to upgrade GP estates. Many in the sector will feel this cash injection (which is the first national capital fund for primary care estates in 5 years) is long overdue.
89%. That’s how many medics say they don’t have access to the necessary IT equipment to do their jobs properly
And whilst there’s no doubt that £102m will barely touch the sides of what’s required to make the NHS estate fit for the digital age, it’s an important start.
For the 1,000 or so surgeries set to receive a slice of this much-needed new funding, the question will be a familiar one: how can we spend this money to achieve maximum impact?
Minds might immediately go towards the creation of additional consulting rooms, refurbished waiting areas, or a new roof. And that type of capital upgrade is essential.
But there’s a critical area which can’t be overlooked if we’re to get genuine value out of the spend and tackle that shocking 89% statistic: technology.
At the foundational level, a modern workplace needs modern IT
If we don’t factor technology - both hardware and software - into our plans to upgrade primary and secondary care buildings, we will fail to create an NHS that can deliver modern care at scale.
Because if clinicians are battling against basic digital deficiencies or aren’t able to access the right equipment, healthcare delivery will be hamstrung, however swish the physical surroundings.
At the foundational level, a modern workplace needs modern IT. A lack of basic technology has real consequences for both clinicians and patients.
In England alone, over 13.5 million NHS working hours are lost annually due to inadequate IT systems and equipment. In real terms, that’s an almost unfathomable 1,541 years. When investing in the new NHS estate, spend must be allocated to the computers, broadband, and software systems that will power 21st-century clinicians day in, day out.
The NHS needs modernised spaces, equipped with the right hardware, powered by the right software
Likewise, at a more structural level, we must ensure we’re creating spaces that are fit for tomorrow, not just for today.
That means factoring in medical equipment or innovations that aren’t yet mainstream, but soon will be. For example, the rapid evolution (and increasing financial accessibility) of full body scanners could see them become standard fixtures in GP surgeries in the next decade.
As could new phlebotomy systems, weight loss management services, or AI-led assessment booths. We must bake these potential changes into our clinical spaces: creating flexible, modular settings that can easily adapt and keep up with advancements.
For these investments to achieve full impact, they need to be backed up by a digital infrastructure that empowers clinicians to deliver first-class care.
In England alone, over 13.5 million NHS working hours are lost annually due to inadequate IT systems and equipment
That means implementing smart, interoperable systems that make it easier to access everything from staff and patient records, to key workforce data. It may sound simple, but ensuring that critical information doesn’t slip through the cracks is crucial to making the transition to digital a success.
The NHS needs modernised spaces, equipped with the right hardware, powered by the right software. Without each of these bases covered, the whole system is weakened.
New money for the NHS estate shouldn’t simply go towards fixing old problems. We need to think ambitiously and realistically about what our clinicians and patients need today and tomorrow. Otherwise, we’re simply patching old wounds rather than getting back to fighting fit.