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Is technology killing the NHS?

Arran Cameron
I'm sorry if this comes across as pessimistic but I believe that the NHS will die unless seriously intelligent reforms are made to it. These reforms will probably not be possible because of inertia in the system. What happened to Stafford Hospital is a snapshot of what will come to other NHS trusts.


When the NHS was established in the 1940s, technology in hospitals was far simpler. In many cases medical procedures were carried out using simple hand tools. The most complicated piece of equipment in a hospital was probably an X-Ray machine. A modern hospital contains tens of thousands of pieces of advanced machinery.


This costs a large amount of money to buy.

This costs a large amount of money to maintain and service.

This costs a large amount of money to provide staff training.


The amount of money spent by hospitals on advanced medical devices and IT equipment keeps increasing year after year and is a substantial part of the NHS budget.


If this isn't bad enough in itself, the NHS is not very good when it comes to using and deploying technology due to its cumbersome and antiquated management structure along with the mentality of a high proportion of its staff. The NHS is clearly not a visionary and progressive organisation.


Only a small fraction of medical devices are specifically designed for the NHS. A high proportion of them are off the shelf products primarily designed for the US healthcare market.


The situation is marginally better with software although NHS IT projects are known to have been expensive disasters.


Therefore, is technology killing the NHS?
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  • 0
    so firstly the statememt "Is technology killing the NHS" is incorrect ! even where it might be having some sort of negative impact saying it is kiiling the NHS is simply just an attempt to grab peoples attention. Instead of making "sensationalist statements like this one" lets look at some evidence.

    The KIngs Fund say that Technology has helped the NHS in a number of ways:
    • providing and storing information and advice

    • administration and transactions – eg, making appointments

    • diagnosis – making diagnostic technology available to the consumer

    • monitoring – particularly helpful in an ageing population

    • relationships – improving communication between the patient, carers and professionals.

    The NHS is a cherished and vital institution across the UK - the average life expectancy has increased by 10 years since its introduction – yet it is under intense and increasing pressure.



    Occasionally, referrals take longer than necessary, letters don’t arrive, or waiting times are greater than expected.



    But this could all be about to change with the introduction of a number of tech innovations that should lead to a more personalised, improved experience for patients, thanks to a new partnership with leading communications company BT.



     



    Personal access to health records



    In a partnership between the NHS Islington Clinical Commissioning Group and Islington Council , more than 200,000 people will be given direct access to their health records via a digital database early next year.


    The initiative is also likely to have a major impact on the way referrals are managed. The current referral process works on a national basis by the local GP writing a letter to a Specialist at an Acute Hospital, who would in turn write a further letter to the patient offering them an appointment. The new system will digitise this process, making it more efficient and streamlined.

    Improving the bed blocking challenge



    Another big problem for the NHS is what’s known as “bed blocking”. This happens when people are admitted to hospital for a particular issue, which is treated and resolved.



    But because they still require some care or monitoring, they’re not discharged, so they stay in the hospital longer than necessary. Assisted Living technology is helping to solve this problem.



    Through the use of wearable technology, such as a push button, or fall sensors and alarm pendants worn around the neck, patients can safely go back to their own homes, rather than staying in hospital longer than necessary. This can also be applied to individuals with long-term health conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease.



    An individual may have specific health-monitoring equipment at home, which links up to a device that can send the information to a contact centre or a local care authority



    For example, a diabetes patient could test their blood sugar at home and the information could be sent to their doctor. This means that if their blood sugar levels are getting to a position where they’re going to become problematic, they could receive a visit or a call to ensure the necessary precautions are taken to prevent further complications.



    Less repetition for patients



    Currently individuals are having to tell their story over and over again every time they come into contact with a new department, which can be frustrating and upsetting.



    BT and their partner Total Mobile have created a service allowing healthcare professionals to work remotely - taking notes and accessing patient information on-the-go.



    The Personalised Care Strategy from NHS Digital is all about embracing increasing technology and digital transformation to improve care for patients be it diagnostic, treatment or care in the community.


    Technology is not the answer to everything and it's use comes with significant caveats - to say it is killing the NHS is just misguided. The key points according to The Health Foundation are:







    • Technological advances offer significant opportunities to improve healthcare but are not a silver bullet for the pressures facing the NHS. While there are really exciting developments in areas like genomics and precision medicine, we are a long way from being able to realise their full potential.

    • Technology has the potential to deliver significant savings for the NHS but the service does not have a strong track record in implementing it at scale and needs to get better at assessing the benefits, feasibility and challenges of implementing new technology.

    • Patients are embracing new technology and increasingly expect their care to be supported by it. For example, the majority of people say they would use video consultations to consult their GP about minor ailments and ongoing conditions.

    • New technology could fundamentally change the way that NHS staff work, requiring health professionals to work in new ways or even in entirely new roles. The impact of these changes should not be under-estimated.

    • The public trust NHS organisations to manage their data and there is strong support for using patient data for research and to improve care. While it is vital to balance the benefits of sharing data with concerns about security and confidentiality, these concerns should not be used as a barrier to progress.





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  • 0
    so firstly the statememt "Is technology killing the NHS" is incorrect ! even where it might be having some sort of negative impact saying it is kiiling the NHS is simply just an attempt to grab peoples attention. Instead of making "sensationalist statements like this one" lets look at some evidence.

    The KIngs Fund say that Technology has helped the NHS in a number of ways:
    • providing and storing information and advice

    • administration and transactions – eg, making appointments

    • diagnosis – making diagnostic technology available to the consumer

    • monitoring – particularly helpful in an ageing population

    • relationships – improving communication between the patient, carers and professionals.

    The NHS is a cherished and vital institution across the UK - the average life expectancy has increased by 10 years since its introduction – yet it is under intense and increasing pressure.



    Occasionally, referrals take longer than necessary, letters don’t arrive, or waiting times are greater than expected.



    But this could all be about to change with the introduction of a number of tech innovations that should lead to a more personalised, improved experience for patients, thanks to a new partnership with leading communications company BT.



     



    Personal access to health records



    In a partnership between the NHS Islington Clinical Commissioning Group and Islington Council , more than 200,000 people will be given direct access to their health records via a digital database early next year.


    The initiative is also likely to have a major impact on the way referrals are managed. The current referral process works on a national basis by the local GP writing a letter to a Specialist at an Acute Hospital, who would in turn write a further letter to the patient offering them an appointment. The new system will digitise this process, making it more efficient and streamlined.

    Improving the bed blocking challenge



    Another big problem for the NHS is what’s known as “bed blocking”. This happens when people are admitted to hospital for a particular issue, which is treated and resolved.



    But because they still require some care or monitoring, they’re not discharged, so they stay in the hospital longer than necessary. Assisted Living technology is helping to solve this problem.



    Through the use of wearable technology, such as a push button, or fall sensors and alarm pendants worn around the neck, patients can safely go back to their own homes, rather than staying in hospital longer than necessary. This can also be applied to individuals with long-term health conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease.



    An individual may have specific health-monitoring equipment at home, which links up to a device that can send the information to a contact centre or a local care authority



    For example, a diabetes patient could test their blood sugar at home and the information could be sent to their doctor. This means that if their blood sugar levels are getting to a position where they’re going to become problematic, they could receive a visit or a call to ensure the necessary precautions are taken to prevent further complications.



    Less repetition for patients



    Currently individuals are having to tell their story over and over again every time they come into contact with a new department, which can be frustrating and upsetting.



    BT and their partner Total Mobile have created a service allowing healthcare professionals to work remotely - taking notes and accessing patient information on-the-go.



    The Personalised Care Strategy from NHS Digital is all about embracing increasing technology and digital transformation to improve care for patients be it diagnostic, treatment or care in the community.


    Technology is not the answer to everything and it's use comes with significant caveats - to say it is killing the NHS is just misguided. The key points according to The Health Foundation are:







    • Technological advances offer significant opportunities to improve healthcare but are not a silver bullet for the pressures facing the NHS. While there are really exciting developments in areas like genomics and precision medicine, we are a long way from being able to realise their full potential.

    • Technology has the potential to deliver significant savings for the NHS but the service does not have a strong track record in implementing it at scale and needs to get better at assessing the benefits, feasibility and challenges of implementing new technology.

    • Patients are embracing new technology and increasingly expect their care to be supported by it. For example, the majority of people say they would use video consultations to consult their GP about minor ailments and ongoing conditions.

    • New technology could fundamentally change the way that NHS staff work, requiring health professionals to work in new ways or even in entirely new roles. The impact of these changes should not be under-estimated.

    • The public trust NHS organisations to manage their data and there is strong support for using patient data for research and to improve care. While it is vital to balance the benefits of sharing data with concerns about security and confidentiality, these concerns should not be used as a barrier to progress.





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