Key areas of NHS digital innovation to watch in the next 12 months

Digital innovation across the NHS in the next 12 months is not just about adopting new gadgets; it's a fundamental, system-wide transformation aimed at addressing key challenges like long waiting times, staff burnout, and the shift from treating sickness to preventing it. The NHS's recent "Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan" and related strategies for 2024-2025 and beyond provide a clear roadmap for this change.

Here are the key areas of digital innovation to watch in the next 12 months:

1. Digital and Data-Driven Transformation

This is the most prominent area of innovation and will be the foundation for many other changes. The NHS is moving decisively from an "analogue to digital" model.

Single Patient Record (SPR): The development of a national, secure Single Patient Record is a top priority. This "patient passport" will unify a person's health data, including medical history, genomics, and data from wearables, giving clinicians a complete view of the patient and improving care coordination. The rollout of federated data platforms will support this effort.

Expansion of the NHS App: The NHS App is being transformed into a "full front door to the entire NHS." Its functionality will be significantly expanded to allow patients to book appointments, communicate with professionals, receive advice, view care plans, and self-refer to services. A new "HealthStore" marketplace within the app will provide access to approved digital health apps and tools.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI is a major focus for improving productivity and clinical decision-making. Key applications to watch include:

Ambient AI Scribes: The widespread deployment of voice recognition technology to automate clinical notetaking and reduce administrative burdens for staff.

AI-enabled Diagnostics: Using AI to analyze X-rays, scans, and other medical images to assist in faster and more accurate diagnoses, particularly in specialties like dermatology, ophthalmology, and cardiology.
Automated Workflows: AI and automation will be used to streamline administrative tasks and optimize clinical pathways.

2. Shifting Care from Hospitals to the Community

The NHS is committed to moving away from a hospital-centric model of care to one that is closer to people's homes, a shift from "hospital to community."

Virtual Wards: The expansion of virtual wards (also known as "hospital at home") where patients receive acute care and monitoring in their own homes, supported by remote technology.

Neighbourhood Health Centres: The establishment of "one-stop shop" health centres in communities, which will offer a range of patient care services and serve as the base for multidisciplinary teams.

Enhanced Role of Community Pharmacy: Community pharmacies will take on a greater role in managing long-term conditions and will be integrated with the single patient record to provide more coordinated care.

3. Focus on Prevention and Personalised Care

There is a strategic shift from treating sickness to preventing it, with a strong emphasis on proactive and personalized approaches.

Genomics: The NHS is investing in genomic sequencing, including a project to sequence the genomes of newborns to build a database for understanding health risks and informing preventative measures.

Wearables and Biosensors: The use of smart devices to continuously collect health data for monitoring chronic conditions, prevention, and post-acute treatment. This data will be integrated into the single patient record to enable more predictive care.

Personal Health Budgets: The NHS aims to at least double the number of people offered a personal health budget, giving individuals more control and choice over their care.

4. Improving Clinical and Operational Efficiency

Innovation is also focused on addressing systemic pressures like waiting times and workforce shortages.

Simplified Procurement: The NHS is introducing new, more streamlined procurement processes, including a "NHS innovator passport for medtech," to speed up the adoption of new technologies.

Elective Care Reforms: Technology will play a key role in reducing elective care waiting times, including through digital patient engagement and improved data access for clinicians.

Staff Empowerment: Beyond AI scribes, the NHS is exploring other technologies to reduce the administrative burden on staff and free up clinical time. This includes digital tools that improve productivity and resource access.

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