The UK has a long, and chequered, history of bringing IT systems into the doctor’s office. Today in primary care, nearly all doctors’ practices are digitised. But in the NHS hospitals and trusts, the story is messier – with cost overruns, changing policies and technical glitches slowing progress. This report, by an independent advisory group to the NHS led by US digital health expert Robert Wachter of University of California-San Francisco, summarises progress to date and sets out 10 recommendations for action. It urges that all NHS Trusts be fully digitised by 2023. The report was released in August 2016 by the UK government, and has already elicited a pledge for further investment – but some critics have called the response inadequate.
From the report:
“The experience of industry after industry has demonstrated that just installing computers without altering the work and workforce does not allow the system and its people to reach this potential; in fact, technology can sometimes get in the way. Getting it right requires a new approach, one that may appear paradoxical yet is ultimately obvious: digitising effectively is not simply about the technology, it is mostly about the people.
“To those who wonder whether the NHS can afford an ambitious effort to digitise in today’s environment of austerity and a myriad of ongoing challenges, we believe the answer is clear: the one thing that NHS cannot afford to do is to remain a largely non-digital system. It is time to get on with IT.”
The National Advisory Group on Health Information Technology in England advised the Department of Health and NHS England about transitioning to a more digital secondary healthcare system and provides 10 implementation recommendations.
Making IT Work: Harnessing the power of health information technology to improve care in England was published by the UK government in August 2016.
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