A digital NHS - is paperless by 2020 a catalyst?

We here at DrDoctor remain ever optimistic that innovation is at a tipping point and is on the edge of mass dissemination for the general public. A digital NHS has in some ways has already arrived and in other ways leaves much to be desired. A paperless NHS by 2020 is the fundamental target in tipping that scale.

Computers were meant to eradicate paper years ago, but that’s clearly not the case today. So what does a paperless NHS by 2020 mean? Where does it successes and failures lie? And what should a good digital NHS look like?

What is a paperless NHS?

Clarity over what a paperless NHS means to a hospital on the ground level is pretty essential. As I mentioned above, the notion of completely abolishing paper is not the goal, but ‘a drastically reduced paper usage NHS by 2020’ doesn’t quite roll off the tongue the same.

The aim is to allow patients to book services and order prescriptions online, access apps and digital tools and choose to speak to their doctor online or via a video link. More than £4bn has been set aside for areas such as electronic records and online appointments, prescriptions and consultations. 

What this really means is allowing patients to interact with their healthcare in the same way they do with every other service in their life today. Many of us no longer check our physical mailboxes and the intention is to have an NHS that is no longer reliant for the majority on physical communication and shift that majority to a reliance on digital.

Success and failures of paperless NHS 2020

Where the paperless NHS by 2020 goal succeeds is in its messaging. When you’re appealing to an entire population to get behind a cause or an objective it’s essential we make it simple. Having a clear mission is a massive reason why this has ever taken off in the first place.

Alas, a simple message alone won’t be enough. The failures lie in the execution and engagement. The realisation of the plan lacks any repercussion. That is to say there is no real downside if the goal is attained by said date. In order for this to work at its full affect there needed to be financial incentives for the hospitals to fulfil. With no real reasons to work on said target and no repercussions if not achieved, it’s easy to see why a hospital that is generally under resourced and under financed might not prioritise this.

Our future - a digital NHS

Our future is digital. And despite the naysayers it is achievable quickly and possible by 2020.

‘But before then the NHS will need to train its staff and invest in modern computers like the ones people use at home.’ There are some key factors that need to be aligned but once this is done change can take place at rapid speed. Factors such as; equipment, staff training and a clear unified vision. IT implementations can be fast, efficient and save you money, so adopting a digital NHS is more easily in our future than we might think.