What can ICT do for the NHS?

What is the NHS going to become? What will it do / what services will it offer? Who will run it? …? Who will do what, when, where? What can ICT do for the NHS?

Context - NPfIT NHS IT system 'has cost billions without delivering ANY benefits' The report by the National Audit Office concludes that the £2.7 billion so far spent creating a database of medical records had not been “value for money”. It said it had no confidence that the £4.3 billion which will be invested over the next few years will be “any different.” A Department of Health spokesperson said: 'Improving information technology is a fundamental part of delivering a modern, world-class health service. 'This report from the NAO highlights major concerns with the pace and scale of delivery of information systems under the National Programme for IT. 'We agree change is needed and that the original vision was flawed.‘ Daily Mail on-line accessed 31 st May 2011

Context – efficiency savings England's biggest hospital trusts are cutting up to 10 per cent of their beds as NHS managers try to meet tough efficiency targets. Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, responsible for five London hospitals, expects to cut up to 160 beds, or 10 per cent of the total, as part of a £70 million savings drive. An internal memo to staff reads: "In order to reduce costs, we will be reducing our bed numbers while doing our best to maintain the patient experience.“ Daily Telegraph on-line accessed 31 st May 2011

Context – efficiency savings … Portsmouth hospitals has already … announced plans to axe up to 99 jobs in a bid to save £30.5m. Health chiefs say it’s much cheaper to treat someone in their home or at a clinic than in a hospital setting. ‘…This isn’t about cutting services, it’s about finding new ways of working while also improving the quality of care.’ ‘… A key focus will be treating more people in the community. We would never seek to keep somebody out of hospital if they need to be there, but we know a large number of people are admitted to hospital unnecessarily and could be cared for or treated at home or in the community.’ ‘We are also looking at the criteria for treatment and surgery and ensuring we’re not putting money into areas where there’s limited clinical values.’ Portsmouth News on-line accessed 31 st May 2011

Long term conditions Diabetes Heart disease COPD Depression Obesity Stroke … Major pressures And an increasingly ageing population

… long term conditions … enabling people to stay independent longer … influence behaviour using IT? … provision of information direct to the patient Internet, mobile devices, social networking etc My thoughts?

‘… ;or a patient who can have face-to-face video chats with her doctor.’ President Obama State of the Union speech 2011 ‘The companies that realize the future of health is about life and happiness rather than sickness, death and medical solutions are the ones that will lead the next decade.’ Most health solutions aren’t medical, they’re social. Jay Parkinson thefuturewell.com February 2011 And finally …