Advertisement

NHS patients will be monitored at home under ‘digital revolution’ plans

Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary, said the moves will amount to a 'radical programme of modernisation' which he said would set the NHS up for decades to come - Stefan Rousseau
Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary, said the moves will amount to a 'radical programme of modernisation' which he said would set the NHS up for decades to come - Stefan Rousseau

NHS patients will be monitored in their own homes under plans for a “digital revolution” of the way the health service is run.

Around 800,000 people will be offered monitors to track conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and blood pressure, in a bid to keep them healthy and out of hospital.

The government plan will include an overhaul of the NHS app, so patients can use it to book hospital appointments, check test results and register with a GP.

As it develops, patients will also get reminders about screening and health checks, and tools that set out the risk of diseases.

The plan, which follows a £2 billion investment in technology, also outlines an expansion in “virtual consultations” for hospital appointments, as part of efforts to clear backlogs.

'Radical programme of modernisation'

Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary, said the moves amounted to a “radical programme of modernisation” which would set the NHS up for decades to come.

Up to 780,000 people will be offered “digital monitoring” using medical devices, which can track heart rates and other vital signs, by March of next year, as part of efforts to offer more help out of hospital. Officials said the schemes were able to detect warning signs of problems earlier, leading to fewer admissions and shorter stays in hospital.

There will also be an expansion of “virtual wards” so frail patients can be cared for at home after being discharged.

The drive will also see the use of artificial intelligence for screening of diseases such as breast cancer and lung disease, with the first results of test systems due later this year.

Officials said the plans would drive efficiency, freeing up hospital space and clinical time, helping to bust record waiting backlogs.

Nearly 6.5 million people are on waiting lists, with the vast majority waiting for tests and scans, rather than operations. The new plan aims to speed up waits for checks, and bring an end to duplication, with patients sent for repeated tests because systems cannot share records properly.

Officials insisted that those who are unable to embrace technology will not be excluded from access to services, saying they will “always be part of a multi-channel offer that includes in person, phone and online services.”

The plan said services must incorporate non-digital options where they are needed to ensure equitable access.

It follows concerns about the way remote consultations for GPs were rolled out during the pandemic.

As Britain went into lockdown, GPs were instructed to shift to offering “virtual” appointments as a default position, restricting the numbers who got face-to-face access.

Since then, health officials and ministers have insisted that anyone who wants to see a GP in person has the right to do so.

Plan sets targets for 10,500 new jobs

Mr Javid said: “We are embarking on a radical programme of modernisation that will make sure the NHS is set up to meet the challenges of 2048 – not 1948, when it was first established.

“This plan builds on our data strategy to revolutionise digital health and care, which will enable patients to manage hospital appointments from the NHS App and take more control of their own care at home, picking up problems sooner and seeking help earlier.

“Ensuring more personalisation and better join up of the system will benefit patients, free up clinician time, and help us to bust the Covid backlogs.”

The plan sets targets for an extra 10,500 positions working in data and technology.

Dr Timothy Ferris, the national director of transformation at NHS England and NHS Improvement, said: “By harnessing the power of digital and data we can improve both how people access services and the way we provide care.

“Today’s plan for digital health and care sets out an ambitious vision for a future where the NHS puts more power and information at patients’ fingertips, and staff have the tools they need to deliver better and more joined-up services for those who need them.”