Future proofing health and care will require investment in both staff and technology

12 February 2019

 

The director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, Miriam Deakin said:

“We welcome this report and are pleased that it recognises the role of technology in enhancing and augmenting clinical roles, including through reducing admin and speeding up diagnosis and treatment.

“The report recognises the need to future proof the health service and plan for the future. It is one part of a wider strategy to up-skill the workforce and now needs to be utilised to develop tangible and deliverable programmes to improve the use of technology in healthcare.

There needs to be a clear strategy on how technology will be made universally available to healthcare providers as part of the new capital allocation regime.

Miriam Deakin    

“However, this will require investment in both staff and technology. In recent years cuts to non ring-fenced health spending have included training and education budgets. It is essential these cuts are reversed in the 2019 Comprehensive Spending Review.  There also needs to be a clear strategy on how technology will be made universally available to healthcare providers as part of the new capital allocation regime.

“The report sets out an ambitious vision for sequencing millions of genomes, supported by a clinical workforce that is educated and competent in digital healthcare, genomics and predictive analytics. This is going to require a clear delivery plan that builds on the progress that has already been made by NHS trusts.”