INSIGHT: 6 key takeaways for technology in health and social care – accelerating trends, digital deprivation and finding the right balance
Guy Carson reflects on his time at the Westminster Health Forum’s virtual conference on the use of technology in the health and social care sector and summarises his six key takeaways.
The first session, chaired by Paul Bristow MP, was clear that the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the importance of technology both in the care and treatment of the people we serve but also in how the system functions.
1. Think beyond the headlines: from AI to back office
Much is reported about the headline grabbing technological projects currently in train, with panellists highlighting examples of the use of Artificial Intelligence in the sphere of diagnostics to assist with diagnosis and the creation of individualised care plans. However, it was acknowledged that the development of useful technology extends beyond these headline grabbing initiatives into more mundane back of house areas, helping organisations run efficiently and effectively, allowing managers and planners to marshal their limited resources better. In estates planning the use of technology is essential to determine where investment is needed and overcome historic issues with the utilisation of facilities.
2. Enabling community settings and connecting the ‘virtual hospital estate’
The Long Term plan is clear that care should be provided in appropriate settings, the use of technology will enable this transition of low risk health provision into smaller more community facing settings which can become part of the virtual hospital estate. The environmental and social benefit of this can be significant.
3. Tech is not a panacea – beware widening digital deprivation
Much was made of digital deprivation, which is actually widening health inequalities. With c.12m people lacking the necessary skills to use the internet competently there is a long way to go before digital solutions can become the norm, and so widespread implementation comes with a caution. The pandemic has exposed and extended the health inequality gap. The long term impact of COVID is an exacerbated gap in inequality.
4. Sometimes only face to face will do
The need to balance virtual consultation with face to face contact is crucial. Technology can only be a panacea if it is implemented correctly, taking into account the social nature of humans enhancing human connections and providing simple solutions to complex problems. An example cited relates to mental health, technology has enabled more capacity in the system through the use of virtual consultation but practically the sector is actually seeing a downturn in patients accessing services, they need face to face.
5. Digital health estate must facilitate more local engagement
The role of place is therefore an increasingly important factor that clinical planners need to grapple with. Some believe that the age old obsession with place is being replaced by a need to identify with like mindedness, whereas other contend that the role of the local community is increasing as the democratisation of the complex becomes more available at our finger tips and not in the realm of the distant expert. Either way there is a significant impact on how the NHS engages with citizens, the role of digital is at the centre of this and estates planners must actively consider these impacts on portfolio management and development.
6. Plan, plan, plan – think tech beyond COVID
Finally, the pandemic has accelerated the roll out of only some tech priorities, whereas others have fallen by the wayside. As we return to normal the adoption of ‘crisis’ solutions will fall away at a time when we need to work harder to reinvigorate the whole programme. Historic drivers have been replaced by the current emergency and a set of short term objectives. We heard from Staffordshire CCG where a number of exciting and inspirational initiatives are progressing between clinicians and citizens creating new care pathways which enable more proactive and owned management of long term conditions and clinical engagement. Replacement of estate should at first consider these opportunities and how the physically manifest themselves in communities.
How is the tech acceleration playing out in your healthcare organisation?
I would love to hear more examples of how the digital world is supporting healthcare in the current crisis and beyond, and how we make sure it works for both patients and the estate.
