They’re asking for our ideas: https://change.nhs.uk/en-GB/
Here’s a starter-for-10: stop being process driven but bring back management that drives forward positive health outcomes for patients.
I worry about a drive towards digital in the NHS until they’ve got their humanity back. Better data sharing is fine but There’s already too much evidence that (often poor) IT systems drive their behaviour rather than individual patients.
Forgive me if I’ve told this tale before: whisked out of the waiting area by a “tec” (any clues?), I was required to cover my left eye and read the chart on the wall. Clearly, the system couldn’t manage a direct refusal. Afterall, when I couldn’t see the wall, let alone the chart, covering one eye was an utter waste of time for everyone. But, equally clearly, the Moorfields IT system design hadn’t foreseen that a patient could be blind!
During a subsequent stay in another hospital, the ward staff were constantly glued to their screens. Recording frequency of temperature and other data seemed more important than actual care.
Yet another hospital on a Friday afternoon: one member of staff on her screen, another playing video games and they still out-numbered the patients.
Where’s the good management that makes the very best of those very precious health professionals? Hiding in their ward offices and never patient-facing. In the old days, we laughed at clip-board “managers” but now it’s replaced by the IT system rather than investing in great training to transform dedicated people into inspirational leaders.
I’m a person, not a number.
Ps. Isn’t it time the NHS complied with the equality act 2010? After 14 years, they still can’t get accessible communications right all the time. People like me with visual impairment, and others with hearing impairments, already have worse outcomes. We are the obvious ones but there will be millions more with other communications needs that aren’t being addressed.