Kings Fund 22 September 2016
- This report looks at the key commitments made around moves to support the digital agenda across the NHS, and what is known about progress to date.
- The report is grouped under three broad themes:
- interoperable electronic health records
- patient-focused digital technology
- secondary use of data, transparency and consent.
- It identifies barriers to further progress and opportunities for delivering on the digital agenda.
- Digital technology can transform how patients engage with services, drive improvements in efficiency and care co-ordination, and help people manage their health and wellbeing.
- For historical reasons, the acute sector is furthest from achieving the goals set out under this agenda, in contrast to general practice where use of digital clinical systems is near-universal. Delivering large-scale digital transformation involves risks for NHS leaders (particularly in acute trusts); they should receive more support and tolerance from regulators and commissioners.
- To maximise uptake, patients and the public need to be aware of the benefits of digitisation, while being reassured about data security and use.
- Clinicians and frontline staff must be involved in designing and rolling out new technology.
