As part of our NHS at 70 series we spoke with William Pettit, a Junior Doctor and Head of Business Growth for Forward Health, an organisation set-up to provide secure communication for clinical teams.
Our aim is to take the pulse, so to speak, of exactly what some of the leading experts in the field of health and technology really feel about the NHS at 70. What does the NHS mean to them? What things would they most like to change with the system? And where do they see technology innovation having the most impact on the NHS, both now and in the future…
“The NHS is an institution that I am hugely proud to be a part of,” William told us. “To deliver a high standard of healthcare, without regard to a patients’ insurance bracket is a triumph of our system.
“I truly believe it can be maintained provided the right long-term decisions are made now so it is still present in another 70 year’s time.
Innovation and digital transformation is vital for the future of the NHS
“Innovation and digital transformation is vital to help the NHS adapt and thrive in the coming years,” William told us.
“With the demand on services increasing while workforce numbers and budgets remain static, something will need to bridge this gap.
In many areas, medicine has yet to harness simple technologies that are ever present in other industries. Embracing technological advancements in every area of healthcare, for example the automation of simple processes, can help to free doctors and nurses to do the things that really matter and deliver better patient care.”
Managing patients with chronic disease
“I would argue that where tech innovation is having the greatest impact, is the improvements in the management of patients with chronic disease.
The shift is to push treatment of this group of patients away from acute hospitals by using technology to empower patients to manage their condition and improve monitoring of disease in the community.
This can help reduce the burden on healthcare staff and lead to early intervention, reducing the need for acute hospital care.”