06.11.13
Royal colleges call for ‘technology revolution’ in NHS
The NHS must radically improve its data collection and sharing, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) has urged.
A new report, ‘i-care: information, communication and technology in the NHS’ sets out seven recommendations to meet the ambition of a paperless NHS by 2018.
Patient record systems must be focused on the individual, not on the disease, intervention, or service, the report states. Additionally, data quality and ease of data capture must be of “paramount importance”; structure and content must be standardised; patients should be given appropriate, standardised access to their records; and the NHS must learn from the information it collects in everyday care.
Professor John Williams, director of the RCP’s Health Informatics Unit, said: “Information is absolutely critical to the NHS. When you visit your GP, when you attend hospital, when you undergo surgery; all of it relies on high quality information. Today’s NHS information systems are way off the mark. This document sets out how we can realise the technology revolution.
“The Francis Report and Berwick Review both identified that the NHS has lost its way, and must be reoriented to deliver patient-focused, compassionate, safe care. Central to achieving this is the availability of real-time accurate information that focuses on the patient.”
Professor Terence Stephenson, chairman of the AoMRC, said: “If the NHS is to continually improve patient care and safety it is essential that we bring our IT and communication systems into the 21st century. Computer technology plays a huge part in medicine and is key way in which we can strengthen the patient experience. Poor systems could disempower staff leaving them fighting to deliver care effectively.
“The Academy is committed to working with Department of Health, General Medical Council and NHS England to produce and maintain informatics standards. But, it’s clear for the findings that doctors, clinicians, nurses need to raise their game too, and we are dedicated to ensuring that the necessary skills are acquired so that the Academy’s vision can be realised.”
Tell us what you think – have your say below, or email us directly at [email protected]