IT and the NHS: An unsustainable status quo
The digitisation of the NHS is by no means a new concept. Technology has long been seen as a critical driver in overcoming mounting waiting lists, evolving care requirements, increasing patient expectations and a workforce often stretched beyond its limits.
However, as trusts up and down the country contend with the increasingly complex needs of a growing and ageing population- on top of the lasting impact of a global pandemic- progress has been decidedly slow.
Despite considerable digital adoption within individual NHS organisations, little has changed in the way trusts communicate, connect patient data and deliver care across channels and departments.
As a result, the full potential of digitalisation to improve efficiency, productivity, and staff and patient experiences has yet to be realised. At the same time, siloed, legacy and patchwork systems place a considerable operational and financial burden on the health service.
