New Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, has ordered a full and independent investigation into the state of the NHS, to uncover the extent of the issues facing the nation’s health service.
“Making the UK a life sciences and medical technology superpower” is one of three key steps Streeting has stated in his wider commitment to supporting the government’s growth mission to improve the health of the nation.
Building Better Healthcare found out what the digital health experts think about this.
The independent investigation into the NHS
Wes Streeting has appointed Professor Lord Darzi, a lifelong surgeon and innovator, independent peer, and former health minister, to lead the rapid assessment, which will be delivered in September.
Its findings will provide the basis for the government’s 10-year plan to “fix the broken NHS” through reform.
Wes Streeting has appointed Professor Lord Darzi, a lifelong surgeon and innovator, independent peer, and former health minister, to lead the rapid assessment
Streeting also set out his wider commitment to support the government’s growth mission by improving the health of the nation.
The aims are based on 3 key steps:
- Cutting waiting times to get people back to work
- Making the UK a life sciences and medical technology superpower
- Creating training and job opportunities through the NHS to deliver growth up and down the country
The expert's reaction
Steve Sawyer, Managing Director of Access HSC, said: “With findings from the review feeding into a 10-year plan to radically reform the “broken” health service, technology must be a fundamental consideration. And by committing to a long-term vision, the new government has the opportunity to take whole-system action, which uses digital in a more transformational way.”
“Technology will only reach its full potential when there are more effective incentives to scale across care boundaries. Hence why, whilst the review is welcomed, it is disappointing to see that it doesn’t include social care or give health and care equal consideration.”
Addressing the first step of cutting waiting times to get people back to work, Sawyer, added: “Now is the time to mandate outcomes-based commissioning and leverage technology that responds to the needs of an individual across the care continuum, rather than a specific care setting or to meet activity-related metrics.”
“For example, cutting waiting times won’t be solved simply by improving productivity targets in trusts. Preventing the deterioration of patients before they need acute care and/or supporting them in their homes, care homes or the community – all of which can be enabled through digital tools such as TEC – are just as effective and need to be considered as part of person-centred solutions,” Sawyer concluded.
Technology will only reach its full potential when there are more effective incentives to scale across care boundaries
Ryan Reed, Digital Transformation Expert at SPS, offered outsourcing as a solution that could help the government reach Streeting's three aims.
Reed, said: “It’s encouraging to see that Wes Streeting intends to tackle the challenges facing the NHS head-on and will be looking for a raw and frank assessment of the health service."
“However, over the years there have been numerous reviews of service delivery. Therefore, for this inquiry to make a difference – and not simply be a political move - it has to offer tangible solutions to the well-documented challenges. And while the Labour government will want to create their own framework for change, it must have measurable outcomes and real accountability for delivery,” Reed continued.
“With that in mind, proven solutions readily available to tackle the government’s three aims - which include cutting waiting times - need to be baked into plans. And, with Streeting previously acknowledging the role of the private sector in helping patients be seen faster, outsourcing must be a core consideration,” Reed explained.
Our experience across industries have shown how AI can transform non-clinical workflows and processes to drive efficiencies and economies
“Our work with trusts has shown that outsourcing non-clinical functions can reallocate admin-based tasks, such as booking appointments within a matter of weeks; giving time back to clinical staff, helping tackle waiting lists, and saving the NHS over £1 billion a year,” Reed concluded.
Craig Oates, Health Lead at Celonis, highlighted AI technology to improve and transform NHS services.
Oates, said: “We recognise the need for the Secretary of State’s independent review of the NHS to better understand its challenges and bring all parties together to address them - uniting people, processes, and technology to transform health and wider care services.”
There are proven solutions in digital health that can make a huge contribution to government’s new review
“We know there are huge opportunities to improve and transform current services and have a rapid and significant impact. For example, Celonis has been working with NHSE and pathfinder trusts to use AI process-mining to significantly improve care, quality and efficiency. It’s enabled huge improvements in urgent care and cancer. Our experience across industries have shown how AI can transform non-clinical workflows and processes to drive efficiencies and economies,” Oates explained.
“There are proven solutions in digital health that can make a huge contribution to government’s new review and be pivotal in transforming care across complex care settings and within provider organisations,” Oates concluded.
Overall, the experts welcome the investigation, and offer solutions, in the hopes that the investigation is not just another “political move”, but a genuine step forward in utilising technology to implement the three key steps to “improving the nation's health.”