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NHS 'not making enough use of IT' | NHS 'not making enough use of IT' |
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The health service must be more innovative in its use of everyday technology to improve care for patients, experts say. | The health service must be more innovative in its use of everyday technology to improve care for patients, experts say. |
The King's Fund health think tank said the NHS was lagging behind other sectors such as banking and travel. | The King's Fund health think tank said the NHS was lagging behind other sectors such as banking and travel. |
Its report recommended that more use be made of video-conferencing or webchats - and that patients should be able to send and receive e-mails from their GP. | |
It comes as the health service is in the process of a £12bn IT revamp. | It comes as the health service is in the process of a £12bn IT revamp. |
When it comes to our health care, patients aren't even able to use basic technologies Anna Dixon, of the King's Fund | When it comes to our health care, patients aren't even able to use basic technologies Anna Dixon, of the King's Fund |
The 10-year upgrade in England will see the introduction of electronic care records and online booking for hospital appointments. | The 10-year upgrade in England will see the introduction of electronic care records and online booking for hospital appointments. |
Similar programmes are also being implemented in Wales and Scotland. | Similar programmes are also being implemented in Wales and Scotland. |
But the King's Fund report said the NHS could go much further by making the most of e-mail and the internet. | But the King's Fund report said the NHS could go much further by making the most of e-mail and the internet. |
While 17m people bank online and over half of people book their holidays via the web, e-mail correspondence with GPs is virtually unheard of. | While 17m people bank online and over half of people book their holidays via the web, e-mail correspondence with GPs is virtually unheard of. |
The King's Fund said the NHS could send tests results out via e-mail or allow patients to have webchats with doctors - both of which would improve the patient experience. | The King's Fund said the NHS could send tests results out via e-mail or allow patients to have webchats with doctors - both of which would improve the patient experience. |
Duty | Duty |
The report also proposed using video conferencing between senior hospital doctors and a patient's family, when one is at a sick one's bedside and the other is elsewhere. | The report also proposed using video conferencing between senior hospital doctors and a patient's family, when one is at a sick one's bedside and the other is elsewhere. |
It said improving the use of technology would be particularly helpful to people with long-term conditions such as diabetes who had the most contact with the NHS. | It said improving the use of technology would be particularly helpful to people with long-term conditions such as diabetes who had the most contact with the NHS. |
Lord Darzi's review of the NHS, published in July, made innovation and technology a priority for the health service, giving regional health bosses a duty to promote innovation. | Lord Darzi's review of the NHS, published in July, made innovation and technology a priority for the health service, giving regional health bosses a duty to promote innovation. |
But the King's Fund said such a vision risked being not realised because of a lack of incentives, resources and leadership. | But the King's Fund said such a vision risked being not realised because of a lack of incentives, resources and leadership. |
Anna Dixon, the King's Fund director of policy, said: "There are information technologies in most homes and pockets that could transform health care and the way it is delivered. | Anna Dixon, the King's Fund director of policy, said: "There are information technologies in most homes and pockets that could transform health care and the way it is delivered. |
"These are not futuristic, these are technologies we use day-to-day. But when it comes to our health care, patients aren't even able to use basic technologies." | "These are not futuristic, these are technologies we use day-to-day. But when it comes to our health care, patients aren't even able to use basic technologies." |