Technology is the way forward for NI health and social care in Northern Ireland
Technology key to ‘new model’ of NI health and social care
Northern Ireland to introduce e-patient records and expand telehealth and telecare as part of its shake up of health and social care
A review of Northern Ireland’s health and social care services has identified technology as a key to creating the “new model” for services that will improve patient outcomes and drive up quality of care.
The document, titled Transforming your care, sets out initiatives which mirror those made in England in recent years. It says: “Changes should be supported by up-to-date technology to ensure vital information can be shared quickly among professional staff, duplication eliminated and that the latest diagnostic and treatment tools are available.”
Electronic care records which allow health and social care teams to see details of patients’ medications, results of tests and hospital treatment, particularly for emergency care, will form part of the new model. Connected health, used to describe the remote delivery of healthcare t through technology such as telecare and telehealth, will provide support to enable people who are sick or frail to maintain their independence and stay in their own homes for as long as possible.
With the shift of care into the community, the report calls for more use of mobile technology to support staff working in the community.
It points out that the national mobile health worker project found that mobile devices loaded with office and clinical software allowed clinicians working within the community to make nearly 9% fewer referrals and avoid 21% of admissions.
The review endorses the development a data warehouse for GP records in order to deliver a safe and secure method of storing and sharing patient information.
It says a single robust community information system will be introduced and a single telephone number for urgent health or social care.
A “forum” should be set up to “take forward how technology will support the new model of care” and will link services to industry and universities, and ensure value for money solutions are taken forward.
The review concludes that current accident and emergency provision is unsustainable and quotes the chair of the British Medical Association’s council in Northern Ireland who said: “We cannot maintain top flight A&Es in every town. Reconfiguration … is currently happening by crisis rather than by taking difficult decisions.” Under the new model, there would be between five and seven acute hospitals, against the current 10 acute hospitals.
Health minister Edwin Poots said the report set up a “compelling” set of proposals, which will put individuals at the centre of their care and make services increasingly accessible in local areas.
“This envisages a significant shift in where funding is allocated. This will not be straight forward,” he said. “It will require fundamental change to the way we deliver services and will require substantial retraining of staff.”
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