Two government bodies have called for the setting up of two demonstrator regions and a National Centre for Health System Improvement to boost the use of digital technologies in healthcare.
The Council for Science and Technology and Government Office for Science have also called for work on developing an evidence base for the field.
They have made the recommendations in a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, published along with their report, Harnessing technology for the long term sustainability of the UK’s healthcare system.
He has published a positive response saying the Government shares their ambition to build on work in the relevant areas.
The organisations’ letter highlights elements of the report, saying there is an opportunity for a step change in improving population health, and to re-engineer the health system to support integrated pathways for prevention, treatment and cure.
Its first recommendation is that there should be at least two demonstrator regions to test the system-wide application and integration of technologies, using a representative population. This would provide the scope to trial new interoperable systems, integrated technologies and redesigned pathways, and should run for five to 10 years.
Second is to set up a National Centre for Health System Improvement to work with the demonstrators in designing and evaluating system changes, and building the capacity and skills needed.
Third is that the Government should work with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, regulators and the research community to promote development of an evidence base to underpin effective use of digital health technologies to explore how digital solutions lead to better outcomes in care and system efficiency.
Accelerating innovations
“Health innovation can contribute to our economy and global reputation,” the letter says. “Accelerating the adoption of health innovations will ensure that the UK remains a place to design, develop and deploy innovations for the world. It will also strengthen international collaboration and partnerships that contribute to global health security.”
The full report says a wide range of digital and biomedical technologies are now available and are ripe for adoption, pointing to the surge in remote consultations during the Covid-19 pandemic and the accompanying flexibility shown by the NHS.
It says the three recommendations should be considered as part of a suite of measures, not all to do with technology, to promote healthy living and build a sustainable health system.
Image from iStock, Everythingpossible
