With the end of 2022, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the NHS and the healthcare industry need significant restructuring.

Only recently, the paramedic and nurse strikes stemming from a lack of pay reflect the current standards of healthcare that are present today.

For one, it is typical for a patient entering A&E to wait an average of 4 hours before being admitted to a treatment ward. To make matters worse, the BBC reported that more than 550,000 patients had to wait between 4 to 12 hours before being treated.

Experts argue that these statistics demonstrate the inability of the NHS to cope with the immense pressure it faces today – A pressure that is rapidly becoming unsustainable.

Separate sources show that A&E services were not the only department of healthcare that has been affected.

In an NHS England report, data showed that individuals on waiting lists for specialised treatment such as surgery or knee replacement had risen substantially, with a total of 400,000 waiting for more than 52 weeks.

With 2023 already upon us, it is clear that the NHS can not continue with its current standards of functioning.

It is important to note that many of these issues revolve around inefficient legacy systems that significantly slow down treatment delivery.

Instead of simply administering treatment to those in need, clinicians must equally renounce large chunks of their time for administrative tasks stemming from the management of legacy systems.

Effectively, both the NHS and government have placed significant efforts in transitioning to a digitally based healthcare infrastructure to rectify the burden caused by legacy systems.

If this transition is undertaken successfully, the future outcomes for our healthcare in 2023 will show a lot of promise.

To achieve this, the government seeks to utilise digital tech to address specific deficits caused by legacy systems in key areas of healthcare, including urgent and emergency care, primary care, diagnostics, use of resources, workforce, access to care problems and more.

Luckily, the previous years have been marked by significant technological advancements such as Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and telehealth.

One key element that has been frequently cited in relation to this newfound technological innovation is the concept of interoperability.

Briefly defined, interoperability refers to the ability of different systems and devices to communicate and exchange data.

With the current standard of legacy systems, interoperability is impossible, as these systems often operate in silos. This means that there are digitally isolated and unable to reach out and communicate with other systems to share vital information.

Using EHRs and AI, authorised healthcare personnel can access a much-needed centralised digital repository of a patient’s health information across different systems and locations.

Suppose the NHS can implement an interoperable digital infrastructure. In that case, NHS facilities and integrated care systems all around the UK will act as a cohesive network of information sharing and data communication.

For instance, by using AI to sieve through national EHRs, patients on extensive waiting lists can access treatment much faster due to expedited data processing and analysis.

On a similar thread, AI and machine learning algorithms are currently being implemented to enhance analytics and diagnosis within healthcare.

With the capability of analysing vast amounts of data, AI can identify patterns and trends in a fraction of the time it would take a clinician. For example, AI algorithms can identify patients at risk of developing certain conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease, allowing healthcare providers to intervene early.

Lastly, one of the most significant changes that will be borne from digital technology will be the streamlining and automation of administrative tasks.

Mundane tasks such as scheduling appointments, processing insurance claims, or classifying patient data can now be automated, freeing up crucial time for clinicians to focus on patient care.

Additionally, AI and telehealth technology will equally expand clinicians’ access to remote treatment for patients outside of hospital premises.

Ultimately, the integration of new technology has the potential to solve critical problems that our healthcare systems are facing today. Through the implementation of EHRs, artificial intelligence and telehealth, the NHS can improve access to care, reduce burdensome backlogs, and address vital public health challenges.

Overall, using these technologies can transform the healthcare system and improve the lives of many patients in the UK while returning clinicians their time and energy to complete what they always sought to do – Help patients.

Considering this, this technological transition must be undertaken cautiously to ensure our healthcare industry’s success.

HIC, with discovery at the heart of our Delivery Model, is on hand to support technology suppliers and healthcare providers as they develop and navigate such cutting-edge digital transformation and integrate new technology into our healthcare system. We need to act now to support our healthcare system – and as a community we need to work together to solve the pressing issues that our nurses, patients and families are experiencing.

HIC is more than just a consultancy. We provide organisations with the know-how and tools to develop and implement tech for the right reasons. For more information or a conversation, please contact us today!