When Matt Hancock MP was inaugurated as the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in 2018, he was quick to announce the importance of technology in his new vision for the NHS.
New advances in technology are transforming the healthcare industry, changing everything from how patients are diagnosed and treated to the battle against some of the world’s most serious diseases.
This August, the Government announced a new national artificial intelligence laboratory for the NHS, promising to invest £250 million in artificial intelligence (AI) to help solve some of healthcare’s toughest challenges, including earlier cancer detection, discovering new treatments and relieving the workload on the NHS; a timely announcement as pressures on NHS staff and critical shortages make regular news.
However, the surplus of information regarding healthcare technology can make it hard to visualise exactly what a technology-led NHS may look like. This week we’re going to look at the options and initiatives open to and already in place in the NHS.
Many industries are turning to technology to provide an improved service to its customers at a more efficient and cost-effective manner. The NHS is right to make the same investments as long as patient care is properly factored in. Technology should enable professionals to better prioritise the care they provide, meaning the stretched NHS resources can reach more people without demanding more from their people.
