HEALTH DATA

UK Health Data Infrastructure Needs Urgent Overhaul for Effective Reform

The UK government prioritises reforming the NHS by digitising health data, focusing on prevention, and enhancing community care. The Sudlow review recommends overcoming data-sharing barriers. Currently, fragmented and outdated infrastructure hampers research and public trust, necessitating urgent improvements for effective health data utilisation.

HEALTHCARE PRESSURES

NHS Faces Winter Strain: Patient Safety Prioritised Amid Rising Pressures

DIGITISATION

Is Legacy Tech Holding Your Organisation Back, or Can It Work with Innovation?

Outdated systems are a persistent challenge for the public sector, slowing workflows, increasing costs, and diverting resources away from frontline services. Yet replacing these systems entirely isn’t always feasible due to high costs and complexity. So, what’s the solution?

This article explores how public sector organisations can strike a balance by integrating modern innovations like artificial intelligence (AI) alongside legacy systems. With examples like Agilisys’s EHCP Plus platform - an AI tool that creates Education, Health, and Care Plans in minutes - it shows how technology can increase efficiency without requiring a complete overhaul.

It also outlines practical steps to make innovation work, including identifying clear use cases, piloting solutions, and fostering collaboration across teams.

Legacy systems don’t have to be roadblocks. With the right approach, they can coexist with cutting-edge tools, helping organisations improve efficiency, reduce costs, and deliver better outcomes for citizens.

Read the full article to explore how innovation can transform public services without starting from scratch.

HEALTHCARE POLICY

Government Urgent Plan to Address NHS Workforce and Community Care Crisis

The government is set to unveil a revised NHS workforce plan this summer, aiming to address systemic issues highlighted by Lord Darzi report. The plan focuses on shifting care from hospitals to the community, a necessary move given the historic underinvestment in community healthcare. Recent data reveals a concerning shortage of fully qualified GPs and community nurses, exacerbating the strain on hospitals. The original workforce plan emphasis on increasing hospital consultants by 49% starkly contrasts with a mere 4% rise in GPs, underscoring the imbalance in resource allocation.

The 10 Year Health Plan aims to transform healthcare by focusing on three key shifts: from hospital to community, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention. This plan is part of a broader strategy to renew the NHS, supported by a significant financial investment of nearly £26 billion. The Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, emphasises the urgency of these reforms, noting that inadequate community resources lead to increased hospital admissions, which are both detrimental to patients and costly for taxpayers.

HEALTHCARE BUDGET

Welsh NHS Calls for Long-Term Financial Planning in Draft Budget Response

The Welsh NHS Confederation welcomes increased funding in the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26 but stresses the need for sustained investment and long-term planning. Emphasising the interconnectedness of health and social care, they call for a shift towards preventative measures and a stable, valued workforce for sustainable progress.

HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATION

Healthcare Must Modernise Phone Services to Meet Patient Needs Urgently

The persistence of phone-based customer service in healthcare is a critical issue that demands immediate attention. Despite the digital transformation efforts prioritising online portals and chatbots, the phone remains the primary communication channel for many patients. A significant 72% of consumers still prefer using the phone for swift customer service, underscoring its continued relevance. This preference spans generations, with 71% of Gen Z also favouring live calls for complex service needs, highlighting the inadequacy of current digital solutions in addressing all patient concerns.

The healthcare sector faces an ever-increasing demand due to the discovery of over 200 new diseases annually, affecting a substantial portion of the population. This constant influx of new medical challenges necessitates reliable and efficient communication channels. Patients often require immediate human interaction to address complex and urgent health issues, a need that digital platforms alone cannot fulfil. Consequently, healthcare organisations must modernise their voice channels to enhance patient experience and operational efficiency.

Integrating conversational AI into phone systems offers a viable solution. Intelligent virtual assistants can automate routine tasks, such as call routing and appointment scheduling, thereby alleviating the burden on human agents. This technological advancement not only improves service efficiency but also ensures that patients with urgent needs receive timely human assistance. By embracing such innovations, healthcare providers can maintain patient satisfaction and prevent revenue loss, ensuring they meet the evolving demands of healthcare communication.

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