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Improvement Fellow at The Health Foundation

The Health Foundation Darzi’s review paints a picture of an NHS in need of reform and funding, but also of untapped opportunities. Tech is a key tool at the government’s disposal to improve this picture. I’ve had a look at what the report has to say on the role of tech, data, and AI: 1. A ‘tilt towards technology’ Darzi’s review states that “the last decade was a missed opportunity to prepare the NHS for the future”. While it’s clear that tech & innovation is going to be an important facet of the road to recovery, it is no panacea, and no substitute for investment in workforce, buildings, and equipment. 2.  A ‘productivity gap’ The review highlights the potential of tech to help free up time and improve productivity, but tempers this with findings that NHS staff perceive IT as creating an additional burden. Recent Health Foundation polling of NHS staff highlights the potential for tech to improve productivity, but shows that not all time saved will go to patient care. Clinical staff told us that if tech saved them time, a third of this would go on patient care, with the rest being used for things like reducing overtime and undertaking quality improvement: https://lnkd.in/exeetvih 3. ‘Subscale’ adoption The report notes good examples of tech helping to improve care, but that this is not currently happening at scale. More funding and support is needed for spread and adoption of innovation, which has historically lost out to R&D, testing, and demonstration, as our analysis of national innovation programmes has shown: https://lnkd.in/ek7mAA4a 4. The ‘precipice of an AI revolution’ The review highlights the vast opportunities of AI, with some NHS trusts already deploying AI technologies. Although Health Foundation polling found that, on balance, both NHS staff and the public support the wider use of AI (https://lnkd.in/eyik56KZ), making the most of AI requires a clear strategic plan that addresses issues like public and staff engagement, evaluation, and regulation. We set out priorities for an AI in healthcare strategy: https://lnkd.in/eGAE-jyc 5. ‘Capital starvation’ Estimating an overall shortfall of £37bn of capital investment, Darzi states that as the workforce expanded and the capital base contracted, productivity has declined. Further investment in tech will be critical, but support for implementation and change work required to realise these benefits is equally important. https://lnkd.in/eQGwDmbu A detailed vision for the role of tech is needed in the upcoming 10 Year Plan, where the government has an opportunity to make the NHS fit for the 21st century.

How would clinicians use time freed up by technology?

How would clinicians use time freed up by technology?

health.org.uk

Moamed Mureja (Pr .Eng ECZ , MzwIE , MIET(UK) ,EMBA )

Engineer | Business Perfomance & Growth Expert | Strategist | Operations & Risk Analyst |Change Management Specialist | Optimisation |Digital Transformation

3mo

This is a really balanced perspective 👏 insightful

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