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System-wide adoption of technology can enable transformative change says report
“We are fully supportive of the priorities you identify where digital solutions can really help, many of which are particularly relevant to NHSX.” Prime Minister Boris Johnson
System-wide adoption of technology could enable transformative change that would benefit the nation’s health and wellbeing and promote economic growth, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been told.
Sir Patrick Vallance and Lord John Browne, co-chairs of the Council for Science and Technology said in a letter introducing their report, Harnessing technology for the long-term sustainability of the UK’s healthcare system:
“Now is the time for a reshaping of our approach to innovation in the health system, in line with the government ambition of improving integration of care and levelling up the health of local areas across the UK.
“We offer advice to harness this momentum and unleash the power of technology to support better outcomes for patients, the workforce and the nation.”
The report identifies two areas of opportunity for change and makes three recommendations.
Priority 1: Supporting a step-change to improve and maintain population health, centred around new ways of engaging and supporting individuals and communities, enabled by data and evidence.
The report says a systems approach to improving population health should start with looking across how national and local government policies shape the places where we live and work (and the choices open to us) and encourage working together to support a “Health for All Policies” approach.
Priority 2: Re-engineering the health system to support integrated ‘pathways’ for prevention, treatment and care and better outcomes for individuals.
The report points out digital consultation tools, diagnostics and advances in remote monitoring and increased use of hospital at home allow more treatment and care to be delivered in the community.
The 3 recommendations are:
The Prime Minister replied: “We are fully supportive of the priorities you identify where digital solutions can really help, many of which are particularly relevant to NHSX.”
*FCC and National Care Forum’s joint response to the National Data Strategy is available here.