Making the best use of digital is a vital part of our work. It helps our teams and services work more closely together. This means we can give more joined-up care to patients. The NHS 10-year plan outlines this as a key priority. It is one that we are already working towards.
This year we have spent time to review priorities. This helps us keep our focus on the right strategic goals. Some of our FTs are amongst the most digitally advanced in the NHS. Others are much earlier on in their journeys. We want to make sure we level up our digital agenda.
Digital Programme Board
To support this work, we have new governance in place. This brings together our Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and our clinical leads on digital to discuss and agree priorities. They meet every 3 months. The focus is on projects in diagnostic imaging. This is where we can have the most impact and add the most value by working together. Our aim is to use digital to:
- plan our resources for tests and scans much better across our FTs.
- help us predict and model what the future demand will be.
- increase how many tests and scans we can do by using our data.
- make sure different systems and tech can talk to each other.
- help improve the quality of referrals for tests and scans.
Working anywhere
We have made good progress to make it easier for staff to work across different Trusts and sites. New Wi Fi is now in place in many of our Trusts to support this. We worked to agree some shared rules for access and security. Staff can now use their work devices in other FTs in a simple and secure way. This makes it easier to work across sites and support patients where needed.
Digital productivity bids
The national funding this year aimed to help more NHS Trusts roll out electronic patient records (EPRs). As we are already ahead on this, there was less chance to secure lots of funds for our region. We did have success on some smaller bids to look at how we can use digital in other ways. This includes how we can use AI voice technology to help clinical teams.
Embedding digital into business as usual
Many of the digital priorities we set are now part of how we work. This means they no longer need our strategic support to help guide the work. This includes the continued success and roll out of the Great North Care Record (GNCR). More clinicians now use this every day as part of their daily work.
Across our region, there are 9 different systems that staff use to order tests and see test results. This causes problems for both patients and staff. It can lead to:
- delays in care
- wrong or repeated tests
- more work for staff
- stress and worry for patients.
Our FTs are working together to bring in one system. We will roll this out in stages. It will:
- make it easier for staff to request and track tests.
- allow staff to see results in one place no matter where they work.
- share information in a safe and simple way.
- reduce the need for repeat tests.
"Right now, it can take a lot of time to arrange simple tests across different systems. A single system will make a big difference. It will save time, reduce stress, and help us give patients the care they need without delay."
