However, disparities exist in the use of mobile health apps by income and education level, as well as age and often there is a lack of awareness – or even mistrust of the security of health apps – which could lead to inequalities. With this in mind, it is good to see that mitigating the risk of digital exclusion is one of ICSs’ top priorities. Because of this, the plan emphasises the continuing availability of traditional healthcare access through in-person, phone and online services.
NHS trusts to increase digitisation
A recent government spending review has backed its ambitious digitalisation program with £2 billion in funding, intended to support electronic patient records in all NHS trusts.
By December 2023, ministers want 90% of NHS trusts to have electronic patient records in place, with the remainder in the process of implementing them.
Other elements of the digital plan include expansion of remote patient monitoring at home – with an objective of increasing this from the 280,000 patients at present to 780,000 by March 2023. A ‘virtual ward’ strategy will be implemented in September 2023, allowing patients to carry out hospital pre-assessment checks from home. Ministers also want social care systems to have a standard, digital social care record that can be joined up with electronic patient records.
Digitisation is clearly a priority for NHS England, with its digital transformation expectations reflected in its oversight arrangements for trusts and ICSs. NHS England is currently exploring embedding technology into wider NHS oversight arrangements too, and it plans to work with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to agree a process for digitising its assessment framework across health and social care – including implementation of the GP IT Futures programme.
Enforcing technical standards on suppliers
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