AnnualConference

2011

Transforming the NHS – The Role of

ICT

‘The NHS needs innovative IM&T systems, solutions & service models to underpin new care

models, improved outcomes for patients and deliver greater value for money. If it doesn’t need to

be done nationally, let’s not do it. Local ICT services will be shaped through policy, incentives

& levers to ensure that they deliver maximum value, increased service levels and reduced risk’

Dave Lang - The National View

‘Patient level information, ideally real time, available to GP’s and Commissioners, right across the care

continuum, supporting effective clinical and financial decision making. We need commissioning

support with is fit for purpose that will support CCG’s to deliver the new critical model of

commissioning. This can be delivered in whatever way CCG’s choose but needs to deliver improved

VFM and innovation’

The Intelligent Commissioner

‘Don’t destabilise patient care systems’

‘Start thinking about patient health care systems, not sector specific systems. Commission for

health & wellbeing, not activity’

‘Mindsets needs to change’

‘There’s a long way to go before we can say we have joined up thinking, supported by valuable,

usable business intelligence’

Group Feedback – Key Messages

‘We have made dramatic improvements across the NHS over the last decade. Spending has been at the heart of

that, but it is a broken model. The economic & structural changes are here to stay. Unless we think radically, all those gains will be lost. Information is key: supporting

holistic care packages, driving integrated services, focussing on quality outcomes, creating patient

centered information and helping clinical leaders take effective clinical, operational & financial decisions. This is challenging and exciting. Don’t sit back and wait for

the answers’

Bill McCarthy – Commissioning Board MD

‘Whole-System, multi-faceted, coherent care is the cornerstone of improving health, wellbeing,

outcomes and patients experience. But making it work is incredibly difficult. Information is essential.

Technology has a key role to play but won’t be successful unless it is user friendly, accessible

where needed, not constrained by organisational and professional boundaries . Intelligent, holistic

commissioning is critical’

Dr Mary Hawking – The GP

‘Transformation is about perspective. We often try to shoehorn processes around technology, but

strapping new technology onto old processes doesn’t work. The biggest change is gained from listening to the ideas that clinical teams have and creatively deploying technology to support them.

This is about technology helping us to care for people. Much of it is basic, simple stuff, not cutting

edge high risk projects. Get out and do it’

Andrew Fearn - The IT Professional

‘Data-Protection law should be applied pragmatically. We need to take due care in

everything we do and of course effective risk management is vital, but IG rules should not

stand in the way of technological advances or transformational change. Embed IG thinking into

the design stage of changes and apply reasonableness and proportionality. All that said, don’t be afraid to say ‘we shouldn’t do that’ if it

clearly inappropriate’

Barry Jackson – The IG Expert

‘The scale & pace of the challenge is unprecedented & is here to stay. All the signs of

failure are there in both Providers & Commissions. There is no financial magic wand. Hospitals will be smaller, and community services, whether NHS or Social Care, needs to be reinvented to enable that

to happen safely. ICT services are not immune from that. Nothing is sacrosanct. Vision and leadership

are crucial if we are to maintain control, protect patients and create a sustainable future’

Chris Long - The Cluster CEO

‘Information is at the heart of everything we do. People, processes & technology all need to work

coherently. We have to get the standards right, bring them together across & beyond the NHS and make

them work. Making it real for the clinical community is vital. Clinical portals, oriented around the patient, are a viable and clinically credible way of achieving

those aims. Using open source removes the dependency on one technology or one vendor, enables collaboration and has the potential to

deliver much greater value for money’

Dr Tony Shannon – The ED Consultant

‘Strategic thinking and an unambiguous vision are at the core of successful transformation. Maintaining a focus on excellence, improving competitiveness and

understanding the emerging needs of your stakeholders is critical. You have to design a future that people can understand, want to be part of and

are drawn to, whether they be your own staff, delivery partners, the local community or consumers

and is not constrained by localism or current thinking’

Sir Chris O’Donnell – The Strategist

‘IT is critical to effective clinical practice, but we take it for granted and forget how things were done before today’s technology became ubiquitous.

Technology is good, but don’t overcomplicate it. It is the little things that make a difference, not massive complex systems. Understand what clinical users

need, work with us, take us forwards not backwards and give us local solutions solving local challenges

which maximise the benefits from local networks and which make us more effective’

Dr Bob Bury - The Consultant Radiologist

AnnualConference

2010

Transforming the NHS – The Role of

ICT