New research has revealed what is hampering digital adoption across the NHS, as leaders look to unlock the full potential of technology and usher in the digital revolution.
A survey, conducted by NHS Providers, indicates that everything from financial constraints, day-to-day pressures, and obsolete IT infrastructure are hamstringing the health service.
Barriers to digital transformation
The top three hurdles for trust chiefs to leap over were defined as:
- Funding and financial constraints (73%)
- Operational pressures that reduce clinical engagement, training, and technology adoption (50%)
- Inadequate systems/processes – i.e., wi-fi, computers, multiple logins (38%)
A lack of digital skills (35%) and system interoperability (30%) closely followed.
Current digital capability
Three in four (75%) respondents agreed their board were engaged with – and helping drive – the digital agenda. This was most observed across acute specialist and community trusts (91% and 87% agreement, respectively). Engagement was reported lowest in mental health/learning disability trusts (30% disagreement).
The implementation of electronic patient records is the priority for many trusts, although only around half (54%) of leaders said they were confident their organisation would meet the minimum digital standards for 2025 – which includes the need for all providers to have implemented an EPR. Just under a tenth (8%), meanwhile, reported already meeting the target.
Patient Safety Learning’s CEO, Helen Hughes, wrote an exclusive piece for NHE’s digital magazine outlining how patient safety should be at the heart of EPR projects.
Progress has also been reported regarding cyber security and workforce skills.
Next steps
Trust leaders say a more sustainable, long-term funding approach is the key to digital adoption, with wider plans for a more digital workforce also welcomed.
“Digital transformation has huge potential to give patients better access to their data, better access to care and to ensure that staff can get the reliable information they need to inform decision-making and improve quality of care,” said NHS Providers’ CEO, Saffron Cordery.
She added: “The NHS is under huge strain and chronic underinvestment in digital technology, particularly in community, mental health and social care systems, has left a worrying legacy. We need the government to work with trusts and NHS leaders to remove barriers and to help the health service transform healthcare.
“Trust leaders are committed to making big digital and data advances and NHS Providers is supporting them to do just that through our newly relaunched Digital Boards programme.”
NHS Providers’ report represents views from 140 NHS trusts.
Image credit: iStock
