In a keynote address earlier this year, Matt Hancock, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, spoke about better technology being a necessity, not a ‘nice to have’ saying “better technology is vital to have and embracing it is the only way to make the NHS sustainable over the long term”.
It can be argued that this point is even more pertinent now given the challenges faced by the health and care system as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time we have seen digital technology and innovation deployed tactically and at an unprecedented pace within the NHS, to maximise efficiencies and improve outcomes.
It is essential that we learn from the steps forward that the NHS has taken in deploying digital solutions that enable patients to access care in new ways. We also need to consider the sustainability of these new ways of working in order to benefit the system overall in the long-term.
In their 2019 report, Listening to digital health innovators, NHSX detail some of the key areas that need to be a focus when taking forward digital innovations such as supporting scale, engaging with the market, addressing procurement barriers and increasing digital capability of staff working in the NHS and social care.
These correlate with the challenges we hear from our health and care colleagues and the innovators we support on a regular basis and are still true during current circumstances.
So what can we do to ensure that the NHS continues to embrace technology in the way it has over recent weeks and months?
What can we do?
As a Network, we’re tasked with nurturing innovation, evidencing it and spreading it – to create efficiencies, to support economic growth and ultimately to benefit the patient.
Digital Innovation in health and care is a key workstream and priority area for the AHSNs, and the work we undertake looks to address these challenges to pave the way for digital transformation. We have been working closely with our partners to support them during the COVID-19 pandemic and are starting to work collaboratively on recovery planning.
For example, through our Innovation Exchange, we listen to the most pressing challenges of our local health and care systems, identify innovations that address them and support with evidence generation and navigating procurement processes. All of this helps us to evidence the impact of digital health solutions, supporting spread and scale. By working closely with our health and care partners, we are able to understand those pressing challenges, for example at this current time we are working to deliver Innovation Exchanges to aid service restoration and recovery planning and processes in response to demand within our region.
Before the pandemic we had seen a shift to a new openness to consider and take on digital solutions from our health and care partners. Partially because of some of the great trailblazing digital innovations and the associated evidence, but also because it is so apparent to the system and the public that digital innovation has such transformational potential for our interactions with and treatment of patients. There is even more of a case to explore digital solutions based on demonstrable outcomes during this period where they have been needed the most.
East Midlands AHSN Digital Lead
We’ve taken forward some successful digital programmes in the East Midlands including, using the above example of Innovation Exchange, a Digital Outpatient Appointment Management project. A demonstrator project working with Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust to build evidence of the effectiveness of introducing digital questionnaires that enable clinicians to determine whether follow up outpatient appointments are actually required – saving patients’ time and creating efficiencies for the trust.
As we know taking forward digital activities is so important to the system and our stakeholders, we’ve created an exciting new opportunity for a Digital Lead within the Innovation Exchange and Commercial team at the East Midlands AHSN. Supporting digital innovation is an integral part of all of our roles at the East Midlands AHSN, but this role will look to bring together all of the work we do to take forward the most promising digital innovations and ways of working in this area.
The role holder will develop our approach to digital innovation, working with a wide range of our partners across the East Midlands. They will manage and bring digital projects to life. They will also be responsible for horizon scanning the rapidly evolving landscape for digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions.
The role is an exciting opportunity to work within the network of AHSNs, with health and care partners and innovators, but also to work with national NHS organisations, arm’s length bodies and digital programmes and partners such as NHS England and Improvement, NHS Digital, NHSX, the Accelerated Access Collaborative and the NHS Innovation Accelerator. This collaborative approach means the role holder would be at the forefront of digital innovation within the NHS and develop an unrivalled understanding of how to bring about change through digital innovation within the health and care system.
We’re looking for someone who is passionate about creating change within the health and care system. They will have an understanding of the NHS and ideally experience of the commercial sector together with a track record of creating effective relationships with stakeholders to help meet shared objectives.
For more information about the role and organisation, please visit www.emahsn.org.uk/joinourteam or apply on the NHS jobs website.
The application deadline is 15 June 2020.