The Role of Virtual Care in Managing Long-Term Conditions in the UK

Introduction

When we talk about digital or virtual healthcare, we're referring to the use of technology to deliver healthcare services remotely. This transformation has moved care beyond the traditional four walls of a doctor's surgery, revolutionising the landscape of healthcare delivery. Through video calls, phone consultations, and online platforms, digital healthcare is transforming the way people with long-term conditions (LTCs) access and receive medical care. It's a shift that not only impacts how healthcare is delivered but also creates opportunities to address key challenges like prevention of diseases, pressure on the NHS, and the overall national healthcare spending.

The Burden of Long-Term Conditions on the NHS

In the UK, there are over 26 million people living with at least one LTC and 10 million who have two or more. Their ongoing and complex needs place a significant strain on an already overstretched health and social care system. The challenges facing the NHS are further compounded by the fact that more people are living longer but not necessarily healthier lives. Advances in healthcare have brought greater life expectancy, and as people age they are more likely to have one or more LTC. People with LTCs account for 50% of all GP appointments and 70% of hospital beds. Moreover, 70% of each health and social care pound is spent on supporting people with LTCs.

The Solution: Digital Healthcare

Digital healthcare emerges as a promising solution to alleviate this burden. Virtual care provides an alternative to traditional face-to-face consultations and allows clinicians to manage long-term conditions remotely using various digital platforms. It offers several advantages:

1. Reduced Need for Travel and Waiting Times: Virtual care eliminates the time, stress, and cost associated with travelling to appointments.
2. Continuous Monitoring and Personalised Care: Wearable devices and apps can monitor vital signs and symptoms, providing real-time data to healthcare providers. This allows for proactive intervention and personalised care.
3. Improved Patient Engagement and Self-Management: Digital tools and platforms provide education and encourage self-management, thereby empowering patients to better understand and manage their conditions.

Future Potential and Conclusion

As the number of people with multiple long-term conditions increases with our aging population, the pressures on the NHS intensify. In 'The Five Year Forward View', NHS England made it abundantly clear that managing 'long term conditions are now a central task of the NHS.'

To confront this reality, we must take a proactive approach to innovate and find solutions. Implementing digital healthcare on a large scale emerges as one such solution, proving crucial in providing care for those with long-term conditions.

The time has come for decision-makers to prioritise developing and implementing virtual care pathways. By embracing this technology, we can significantly enhance the quality of life for individuals by ensuring they receive the best possible care.

Our mission is to accelerate the transition of UK Healthcare into the digital era by utilising innovative technology and harnessing the skills of pharmacists. We are achieving this by designing work systems that are safe, efficient, and scalable. Through the adoption of digital healthcare, we can help create a more sustainable NHS and a healthier future for the UK.