Government savings of £200m anticipated via NHS app, indicates internal assessment
Revamped NHS communicator set to slash costs and boost efficiency
Stepping into the digital age, the National Health Service (NHS) is streamlining its operations by making the NHS app the primary means of communication for patients. This shift, which expects to save the health service a substantial £200 million, will be accomplished through reduced postage, stationery expenses, and increased efficiency.
Within the next three years, millions of citizens will receive personal health updates, such as appointment reminders, screening invitations, and test results, directly on their smartphones. This transition echoes the convenience of online banking or ordering a takeaway, according to Health Secretary Wes Streeting.
This year alone, 270 million messages are expected to be sent through the NHS app, marking a 70 million increase from the previous year. Such push notifications aim to reduce no-shows, as around eight million missed appointments were reported in elective care in 2023/24.
Currently, over 11 million UK residents log into the NHS app monthly, while nearly 20 million have opted in to receive healthcare updates via the app. For patients without smartphones, traditional means like text messages and letters will still be employed, with phone lines also being freed up.
The revamped digital approach is geared towards enhancing patient access and empowering them to make informed decisions about their care more conveniently.
Further advancements in NHS app features
The NHS app, launched in 2018, has gained wide usage, now utilized in 87% of English hospitals. Last month, NHS England announced that millions of patients will soon be able to track their prescriptions through the app, similar to the Amazon-style tracking of packages.
This upgrade is in line with patients' preferences for instant access to critical health information rather than waiting weeks for letters that might arrive past due. The government aims to bring the health service to the same level of convenience as online banking or ordering food.
As the NHS grapples with mounting expenses and the need for increased productivity, the NHS App serves as a stepping stone, helping the health service meet its financial and productivity targets by reducing operational costs and optimizing healthcare resources. Additionally, the app paves the way for interoperable digital health solutions, fostering innovation and the development of new services at scale.
Sources:
- [NHS Digital] (https://digital.nhs.uk/services/federated-data-platform)
- [NHS App] (https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/the-nhs-app/)
- [NHS Engage] (https://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/2023/03/15/nhs-app-to-introduce-prescription-delivery-tracking/)
- [Gov.uk] (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-app-is-now-default-method-of-communication/nhs-app-is-now-default-method-of-communication)
- [NHS Digital] (https://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/2022/06/30/nhsx-announces-1-billion-plan-to-upgrade-nhs-technology/)
Enrichment data:
Overall:
The implementation of the NHS App as the primary communication method is revolutionizing the UK's National Health Service, with tangible consequences for both cost savings and efficiency.
Cost Reduction
- Reduced Administrative Overhead: By enabling patients to book, manage, and reschedule appointments through the NHS App, trusts avoid expenses related to appointment letters and text reminders. This results in direct savings on stationery, postage, and communication technologies.
- Optimized Resource Use: The app allows for better management of appointment slots, resulting in fewer missed appointments and more efficient use of healthcare resources. This leads to reductions in costs associated with unused or canceled slots.
- Lower Technology Deployment Costs: The integration with the NHS Federated Data Platform further drives down costs. Innovations built or deployed on the FDP can be scaled nationally for as little as 10% of traditional technology deployment costs due to reusable infrastructure and standardized development tools.
Efficiency Improvements
- Patient Experience and Engagement: Patients benefit from a unified view of their health records, referrals, and appointments, eliminating confusion and administrative errors. This leads to fewer duplicate or missed appointments and empowers patients to manage their care more proactively.
- Streamlined Workflows for Staff: Digitizing appointment management reduces administrative burdens on healthcare staff, freeing up time, ensuring quicker patient care, and enhancing service delivery efficiency.
- Data-Driven Insights and Innovation: Integration with platforms like the NHS Federated Data Platform enables real-time tracking of patient cohorts. The identification of bottlenecks and the application of AI models helps optimize care pathways, further enhancing operational efficiency and directing resources where they are needed most.
Broader Impact
- Financial and Productivity Targets: The NHS is under pressure to reduce costs and increase productivity. Implementing the NHS App supports these goals by lowering operational costs and enabling healthcare providers to meet targets such as a 1% reduction in cost base and a 4% increase in productivity.
- Scale and Interoperability: The NHS App serves as a gateway to broader digital health initiatives, allowing for interoperable data sharing and the development of new services. This accelerates innovation and makes it easier to deploy new digital health solutions at scale.
- The digital revolution in the NHS extends beyond communication, touching the realm of banking as well. Instant access to critical health information mirrors the convenience of online banking.
- Technology, not just in health but also in lifestyle, is making strides in personal finance management. Wealth management apps enable users to monitor their financial progress at the touch of a button, paralleling the NHS app's functions.
- In the wider world of technology, smartphones are cornerstones, making healthy-cooking apps popular. These apps offer recipes for balanced meals, aligning with the NHS's pursuit of health and wellness.
- Education-and-self-development platforms reinforce personal growth. They provide resources for career-development and fitness-and-exercise regimens, complementing the NHS's focus on empowering patients.
- The realm of home-and-garden is also impacted, as sustainable-living advocates turn to technology for advice on eco-friendly practices. Utilizing smartphones, users seek methods for reducing their carbon footprint and living more sustainably.
- Gadgets, particularly those catering to health and fitness enthusiasts, are gaining traction. Wearables like fitness trackers monitor health indicators, mirroring the NHS app's goal of empowering users to make informed decisions.
- As the NHS emphasizes mental-health awareness, discreet smartphones can help individuals manage stress through mindfulness apps. These apps provide a private space for self-care, paralleling the NHS's commitment to mental health.
- The focus on health extends to sports. Basketball players, for instance, use smartphones to track their performance and tailor training routines, mirroring the NHS's approach to enhanced patient care.
- In the NBA, players utilize technology to optimize their performance. Integrated technology in the league is creating data-driven insights, just as the NHS is using data to enhance care delivery.
- During poor weather conditions, updates on the NEWS (NASA's Earth Observing System) can be accessed via smartphones, providing awareness of weather patterns across regions, parallel to the NHS's push for timely communication.
- Lastly, the food-and-drink sector is also influenced by technology. Food delivery apps have become increasingly popular, offering convenience and choice, much like the NHS app's goal of accessible healthcare.
- This digital transformation within the NHS signifies a broader leap in society, echoing a new age where technology seamlessly intertwines with various sectors, making daily life more convenient, connected, and health-centered.
