Dr Simon Bourne, founder and CEO of my mhealth and former COPD lead at Southampton University, examines the digital goals outlined in the NHS long-term plan and the impact of digital patient care platforms on healthcare professionals and patients
Following the announcement of the NHS’s long-term plan in January 2019, the move towards digitalisation and transformation was welcomed across the country. As the UK looks towards a post-lockdown way of living and working, it’s important that the NHS has the digital infrastructure in place to embrace digital-first patient care. In its plan, the organisation has set out five key areas within which to improve; empowering people, supporting health and care professionals, supporting clinical care, improving population health and improving efficiency and safety.
In order to achieve the overarching aim of improved care, the NHS must ensure it is embracing a digital-first way of connecting. In committing to enhancing its services through technology, the NHS can better support its healthcare professionals (HCPs) to provide optimum care while prioritising their workload in an efficient way. In its plan, the NHS discusses its aim to “transform” patient experience, and in utilising technology that is user-friendly and accessible, patients can benefit from remote healthcare without the concerns of long commutes to GP appointments or hospitals.
As the founder of digital healthcare app, my mhealth and former COPD lead at Southampton University, there is no doubt that I am a huge advocate and supportive of the tech-focused goals set out by the NHS and the impact of digital care platforms on HCPs and patients.
Committing to digital-first
The NHS has made significant progress in its digital collaboration. Prior to the launch of NHSX in April 2019, moves towards digital were gradual and did not necessarily achieve the desired impact. However, with a look to the future, the NHS has confirmed its public commitment to better integrate technology into its practices to benefit HCPs. In doing so, is ensuring better support for patients with Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Diabetes, Asthma, Cancer and other conditions.
In enabling digital infrastructure to support patients and HCPs, the NHS can achieve its intention to “Empower People” to manage their healthcare from home. Technology can be put into place to support those with long-term conditions, who have long been used to arduous journeys to attend face-to-face appointments. This technology will enable patients to check-in with their HCP from home, as well as allowing them to take advantage of digital developments such as health-tracking apps to update statistics on conditions that require daily monitoring and accessing their care plans electronically. By committing to making care plans and other health monitoring services available through technology, the NHS can make real progress in its aim to empower both patients and HCPS.
Going virtual
Over the last 12 months, the world has had to move to a virtual way of working and keeping in touch. This is also the case for the NHS, which is committing to virtual consultations through digital transformation. While continuing its commitment to supporting clinical care, the NHS’s plans to revolutionise how patients interact with HCPs is an important step in their digital journey. As virtual appointments give patients the continued contact they are looking for, in turn, these alleviate pressures on HCPs, allowing them to spend 10-15 minutes on a video call with a patient, and immediately return to their work soon after. As neither party needs to be present, HCPs can prioritise in-person appointments that cannot be held via video and can focus on the ongoing work within their practice.
Another facet to virtual interactions with patients is the workload balance it offers HCPs. In implementing cloud-based operating systems that can be accessed from anywhere, HCPs are provided with the opportunity to focus less on administrative duties, such as inventory management, and instead can prioritise patient interaction and care provision.
The path forward
It is clear that the implementation of technology within the NHS will result in better, more streamlined care for HCPs and patients. In its decision to embrace technology, and commit to patient-first digital care, the NHS can empower its staff to better manage their workloads by offering efficiency-optimising solutions to administrative burdens.
As we move beyond a COVID-19 focussed healthcare service and continue on a path of digital transformation, it is important that HCPs and patients are equipped with the tools necessary to make this transition as seamless as possible. As laid out in their long-term plan, it is heartening to see these promises being made.
