Categories: Industry insight

Bringing today’s technology to tomorrow’s NHS

Last week, as Big Ben chimed out midnight and the fireworks erupted around the London Eye spectacularly, my mind went back to the chimes of Big Ben welcoming the Millennium.

We all waited with bated breath to see whether every computer in the land would come to a standstill as predicted. Intensive care units doubled their staff, emergency services were at the ready and many government departments and local authorities had contingency plans dusted off and ready to mobilise.

Due to a lot of planning and a huge investment in IT (an opportunity to replace elderly PCs) thankfully the Millennium had little impact. Twelve years on and dramatic changes in technology have occurred with the introduction of the ‘iPhone era’ where information, such as our friends’ relationship status to the latest headlines, is delivered to us in real-time through the internet, social media and mobile technology.

The ‘iPhone culture’ means that we can get instantaneous information about almost anything, like from Trip Advisor on how good a holiday destination might be and on trains, buses and planes, through to traffic congestion reports. But sadly we still can’t get information about which surgeon and or hospital has, for example, the best outcome for joint replacements.

The reality is that we behave as if the same technology we use within our everyday life is as equally pervasive within our healthcare. However, there is a silo infrastructure, which we have been unable to join up in any meaningful way despite the fact that it would release massive savings and enable real choice through patient involvement. Embracing such technology could not only support the ‘information revolution’ but create an ‘information evolution.’

What is questionable is the unidentified cost for becoming ‘E-dependent’, particularly in a world where technology projects costs are 60-70% infrastructure and support costs.

Budgets are being cut as users, in both the public and private sectors, demand more for less. Periods of rapid change in the way both enterprises and consumers use technology create not only huge threats for those wedded to old models, but also huge opportunities for new ventures and existing businesses capable of capitalising on the new trends.

As we reorganise and restructure the NHS, we must look at new ways to reduce costs, such as moving to Software as a Service (similar to the Pay as you Go tariff on a mobile phone). In addition, the NHS is increasingly seeing more organisations embracing shared services, outsourcing and even cloud computing. Interestingly the NHS has more shared service contracts than any other government department covering finance, HR and clinical functions. Could this be just what the newly formed Clinical Commissioning Groups might need?

2011 brought a lot of uncertainty, predominantly due to changes to the National Programme for IT, the continuously disputed Health and Social Care Bill and the absence of an Information Strategy. Let’s hope that 2012 brings more clarity so that organisations can work to bring in today’s technology into tomorrow’s NHS.

Exciting times ahead I believe and of course we have both the Jubilee and the Olympics to look forward too.

Jeremy Nettle

Jeremy is one of the best-known and most experienced figures in healthcare technology, having worked in the sector for more than thirty years. He started his career as a clinician in the NHS and went on to become IT director at Salisbury Healthcare NHS Trust from 1997-2002. From there, he moved into the private sector when he joined Lockheed Martin as director of business development within the public sector; a new sector for the company. Jeremy went on to work for Intellect (now techUK) as chair of the Health and Social Care Group, giving a voice to more than 260 suppliers on IT policy issues, before joining Oracle as director of business development, EMEA healthcare and then global client advisor for Health and Life Science. Jeremy is now semi-retired, but still works as a health and social care business advisor and sits on the board of companies, educational organisations and charities. Since January 2019, he has also chaired Highland Marketing’s advisory board, which is available to the agency and its clients for advice and support on effective communications and marketing.

Share
Published by
Jeremy Nettle

Recent Posts

The 10 Year Health Plan: as a digital supplier, are you Fit for the Future?

The government has published its big plan for the NHS, with an even bigger role…

2 weeks ago

Fit for the Future: key points and digital in the 10 Year Health Plan

The government has published its 160 page vision for an NHS that will be more…

3 weeks ago

Health tech suppliers respond to the 10 Year Health Plan

The government has published its plans to transform the NHS and deliver a digital first…

3 weeks ago

The spending review and the emerging NHS operating model: what’s happening, and what does it mean for health tech?

Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her spending review as NHS ConfedExpo took place in Manchester. There…

1 month ago

Spending review 2025: How health tech suppliers can capitalise on £10 billion investment

The spending review and the emerging NHS operating model: what are the take-aways for suppliers,…

1 month ago

Reorganisation, consolidation, and cuts: what are the implications for NHS IT? 

NHS England has been downsized and abolished. Integrated care boards have been told to change…

2 months ago