By Shemadene Edwards, Health Researcher, Reform.
Andrew Lansley, the shadow health secretary, has spoken of the need to reform the NHS through putting patients at the heart of the service, empowering health professionals and using information to drive choice. With these themes in mind, a discussion on “how can Britain learn from international examples about using information to deliver best service to the patient and achieve for money” was held at this Tuesday’s Reform conference on “the future of health”.
Sam Lister, Health Editor, The Times chaired the debate and cited an example of good practise in Denmark where 98 per cent of Danish doctors are able to access patients’ records using hand-held devices. They have reported back that this method of immediate access to records saves them on average 1 hour per day. Currently Denmark spends rather less as a proportion of GDP on healthcare than the UK does and is a tax-funded system. Why can’t the UK operate its healthcare system in the same way?
Further, as Andrew Lansley noted, while the NHS “is probably the most data filled healthcare system in the world” it often fails to translate these data into meaningful information for patients. Despite the volume of information out there, it can be almost impossible to find answers to questions such as “How can my father best be treated for cancer in Cornwall?” To ensure better patient experiences we need to create an “information marketplace within the NHS.”
But there are reasons for optimism. Opportunities for improving standards of care are already within reach or being acted upon by innovative companies. One private health provider at the conference discussed key learnings from their sector; holding the up the Australian & Dutch models as examples where increased competition among providers has lead to better care. Another reinforced the message that harnessing technological advancements (such as the digital records system in use in Thailand, India & Denmark) will provide providers with improved, more extensive and better outcomes for the patient. As well as improved patient experiences, the more effective use of data could support the rapid improvement of the NHS and steer it into a position where it could “deal with the fiscal pressures its facing”.
The debate reinforced that better use of the information collected by the NHS will lead to better health outcomes for patients, greater efficiency for clinicians and cost-savings. Considering that the NHS is facing a £15bn funding shortfall, the information revolution can’t come quickly enough.
