NHS Trusts and hospitals face an array of challenges, and an equal number of opportunities for improvement. Chief among them are advances in technology and the constant imperative for greater efficiency. Addressed properly, these drivers let the NHS improve patient care, streamline operations and make better use of resources.
Technology drivers for change
Five technologies are doing most of the work in NHS Trusts today.
Electronic Health Records
Comprehensive digital records of a patient’s medical history. Rolling EHRs out across NHS hospitals has reduced paperwork, cut errors and improved access to patient data. At the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, adoption has meant quicker access to patient information and better-informed decisions.
Telemedicine
Remote consultation and diagnosis. During the pandemic the NHS expanded telemedicine rapidly, letting patients be seen from home. That reduced infection risk and made care more accessible in remote areas – and the expectation has stayed.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning
Predictive analytics, diagnostics and personalised treatment. Moorfields Eye Hospital worked with Google DeepMind on algorithms that diagnose eye disease from retinal scans with high accuracy, accelerating diagnosis and improving outcomes.
Robotic process automation
Automating routine administrative work so staff are freed for clinical priorities. The NHS uses RPA for appointment scheduling and patient registration, reducing administrative burden.
Mobile health applications
Apps for patient monitoring and engagement. The NHS COVID-19 app was central to contact tracing and the wider public health response.
Efficiency drivers for change
- Workflow optimisation. Lean management principles at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust produced more efficient patient flow and shorter waits.
- Resource management. Bed management systems have improved use of inpatient beds, reducing unnecessary admissions and improving throughput.
- Cost reduction. NHS Supply Chain has consolidated procurement, producing significant savings on supplies and equipment.
- Patient flow. Real-time patient tracking at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust improved coordination of care, cut bottlenecks and improved patient experience.
- Energy efficiency. Trusts are investing in LED lighting and renewable sources, lowering operational costs and supporting sustainability targets.
Where Change Specialists fits
None of the above is a technology problem alone. Each one asks staff to work differently, and that is where these programmes succeed or stall.
- Resource capability. Experienced project managers, business analysts and IT and business specialists to support technology implementations and efficiency programmes – so work is executed on time and within budget, with minimal disruption to services.
- Change management. Strategies that get new technology and new processes genuinely adopted, improving staff engagement and making the improvement stick.
Change Specialists holds places on the Crown Commercial Service DOS7 and G-Cloud frameworks, so NHS Trusts can engage us through routes they already use.
By combining the right technology with a genuine focus on efficiency, NHS Trusts can materially improve patient care and operational performance. Talk to us about the capability you need.
Further reading: NHS England: the change model