The government has set out plans to digitise healthcare, to clear COVID backlogs and deliver more tailored care for patients.
In a press release, the government claims people will be able to benefit from faster, more personalised healthcare, following a "digital revolution to make the health and social care system fit for the 21st century".
The plans include rapid expansion of the use of technology, such as remote monitoring and virtual wards, which aim to free up hospital beds and staff time in an effort to clear Covid backlogs. There are also plans to roll out electronic patient records and for patients to be able to complete hospital pre-assessment checks from home.
According to the press release, the acceleration of digital technology in the NHS will improve efficiency and save clinicians' time, which will in turn help to clear Covid backlogs.
The government has earmarked £2 billion in the spending review to pay for the plans to digitise the NHS and social care, but claims that the changes will save billions and promote economic growth.
Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said:
"This plan builds on our data strategy to revolutionise digital health and care, which will enable patients to manage hospital appointments from the NHS App and take more control of their own care at home, picking up problems sooner and seeking help earlier.
Ensuring more personalisation and better join up of the system will benefit patients, free up clinician time, and help us to bust the COVID backlogs."
The plan also highlights the need to provide further training to staff and build a specialist data and tech workforce including 10,500 new positions. The government also plans to add digital skills development to university curriculums and provide digital training and online resources for adult social care staff.
As well as digital improvements to the NHS in general, updates were also announced for the NHS app to provide more personalised care from home and allow patients more access to their records. Through the app, patients will be able to view and manage hospital appointments, book Covid vaccinations, have virtual appointments and see notifications from their GP. These changes aim to provide faster and more personalised treatment. There will also be a user profile, with options for editing contact details and registering for a GP practice.
Simon Bolton, Chief Executive at NHS Digital, said:
"Technology is central in empowering patients and giving them more control when it comes to their health and wellbeing.
The NHS App has changed the way millions of adults in England access healthcare services in the 3 years since its launch and these new features will go further to improve how patients can manage their health and to reduce the burden on the frontline.
We are committed to working with our partners across health and social care to deliver the digitally enabled transformation of the NHS and create a system which provides better outcomes and access for patients."
