How the NHS has embraced digital transformation and what lies ahead | #10YearsBTSS
2024 marks a decade of our flagship event, Building the Smarter State (BTSS). As techUK's premier public services conference, BTSS has become the go-to gathering for public sector digital leaders. Each year, the event attracts around 200 senior leaders and decision-makers from the public sector and technology industry, highlighting how technology is revolutionising public services and paving the way for a smarter state.
In celebration of the 10th anniversary of Building the Smarter State, we have invited 10 tech industry leaders to reflect on a decade of public sector digital transformation. These thought-provoking pieces will be published weekly over the next 10 weeks leading up to the event.
Our third thought leadership article is from Sonia Patel FBCS , National Chief Technology Officer for the NHS .
The past decade has been a remarkable period of digital transformation for the NHS. We have seen the adoption of new technologies and the development of new capabilities that have improved the quality, safety and efficiency of health and care services. In this blog, I will highlight some of the major achievements and the benefits they have brought to staff, clinicians and patients. I will also share some of the exciting opportunities and challenges that lie ahead as we continue to innovate and transform the NHS in the next 10 years.
Electronic patient records and shared care records
One of the most significant achievements of the past decade has been the widespread implementation of electronic patient records (EPRs) across the NHS. 91% of Secondary Care Trusts now have an EPR in place and we forecast that by March 2026, 100% of Secondary Care Trusts will have an EPR in place or the EPR will be in delivery. ?EPRs are digital versions of paper records that contain information about a patient's medical history, diagnoses, treatments, medications, allergies and more. EPRs enable clinicians to access and update patient information in real time and automate charting so reducing errors, duplication and delays. EPRs also support decision-making, clinical audits, research and population health management.
Another key achievement has been the development of shared care records, which are integrated digital records that allow different health and care organisations to securely share information about a patient's care. Shared care records enable better coordination and continuity of care, especially for people with complex or long-term conditions. They also empower patients to access and manage their own health information through online portals or apps. Shared care records are being rolled out across the country as part of the Local Health and Care Record Programme, which aims to create a federated data platform that can support the delivery of personalised and integrated care.
The NHS App and the National Digital Channels
The National Digital Channels (NDCs) comprise our citizen-facing NHS App (for those aged 13+) and NHS Website (also known as NHS.uk), as well as enabling and underpinning capabilities such as NHS login.???
The ambition for the NDCs is to enable people in England to access digital health and care services in order to stay well, get well, and manage their health and care.??
The NDCs aim to deliver a proactive, personalised digital NHS experience for people that pre-empts and responds to need as well as offering choice.??
The suite of existing and future NDC features will:?
The level of maturity and scale the NDCs gained during the pandemic reflects a step change in how digital provision of care is seen and used in England.? Three in four people in England (35 million) now have the NHS App in their pocket and people can increasingly interact with the NHS, receive personalised services, self-serve, and actively participate in their health and care through digital channels. In 2024, an average of 8.1 million unique users logging-in per month, representing 16.9% of the 13+ population.
Key highlights:
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People-centred driven by an event architecture
As we look ahead to the next decade, we have ambitious plans to further enhance and expand the digital capabilities of the NHS. One of the key areas we are focusing on is event driven architecture, which is a way of designing and building systems that can respond to changes in data or events in real time. Event driven architecture enables the timely and accurate sharing of information across different systems and organisations, improving the flow of data and the quality of care. Event driven architecture also supports the portability and interoperability of data, allowing people to access and use their health information across different devices and platforms.
Ambient voice technologies, Robotic surgery, smart building technology, precision medicine and digital health therapeutics
Finally, we are also looking at some of the emerging and innovative technologies that are transforming health and care globally and how we can adopt and adapt them to the NHS context. Some examples of these technologies are ambient voice, robotic surgery, smart building technology, precision medicine and digital health therapeutics.
Ambient voice technologies have the potential to improve the productivity and efficiency of staff and clinicians, by reducing the need for manual data entry, documentation and navigation. Ambient voice technologies can also enhance the experience and engagement of patients, by providing personalised and interactive support, guidance and feedback. Ambient voice technologies are being piloted and tested in various settings, such as GP surgeries, hospitals and care homes, to evaluate their feasibility and effectiveness.
Robotic surgery is the use of robotic devices to assist surgeons in performing complex and delicate procedures, improving the accuracy, safety and outcomes of surgery. Smart building technology is the use of sensors, internet of things and artificial intelligence to monitor and optimise the environmental and operational aspects of buildings, enhancing the comfort, safety and efficiency of staff and patients. Precision medicine is the use of genomic, molecular and environmental data to tailor treatments and interventions to the individual characteristics of each patient, improving the effectiveness, safety and affordability of care. Digital health therapeutics are software-based interventions that deliver evidence-based therapies or treatments to patients, improving the accessibility, convenience and adherence of care.
These are just some examples of the exciting developments that are happening in the field of health and care technology and how we are embracing them in the NHS. We are committed to continuing to innovate and transform the NHS in the next 10 years, building on the achievements and learnings of the past decade. ?We have 100% response to our annual digital maturity surveys and work closely with ICS and users to enable measured improvement in their digital services and clinical impact.? We are also committed to working collaboratively and co-productively with our partners, stakeholders and users, ensuring that our digital transformation is driven by the needs and aspirations of the people we serve.
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