NHS digital foresight: 2024 and beyond

Peek into the digital crystal ball of the NHS as we dive into insights and challenges shaping the healthcare landscape in 2024, shared by digital leaders in the field

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on Digital Health

After a year of intensifying workforce and funding pressures, NHS digital leaders are cautiously optimistic yet wary as they set their sights on 2024. A group of NHS clinicians and digital leaders recently shared their thoughts and future aspirations for the health service with Digital Health News. Here’s a glimpse into their predictions and expectations for the coming year.

 Nick Black: Push for innovative stories

Nick Black, Chief Digital Information Officer at Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust and Chair of the North East & North Cumbria Chief Information Officers Network, envisions a push for innovative stories showcasing government investments in enhancing NHS efficiency, safety, and effectiveness. He highlights upcoming AI work on Lung Health, RPA, and Diagnostic Testing, anticipating a strain on digital resource capacity amidst staff vacancies and the pursuit of new technologies.

Joe Harrison: Expanding NHS app opportunities

Joe Harrison, Chief Executive at Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and National Director – Digital Channels, foresees continued growth of the NHS App in 2024. With record numbers of citizens accessing the app, he anticipates innovative technologies supporting patient care and fostering efficiency, ultimately saving costs.

Dr Penny Kechagioglou: AI expansion and workforce impact

Dr Penny Kechagioglou, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, Chief Clinical Information Officer, and Deputy Chief Medical Officer at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, predicts an explosive expansion of generative AI use in 2024. She foresees AI contributing to process improvements and cost savings, emphasising the impact on workforce capacity and wellbeing. Dr Kechagioglou remains hopeful for the establishment of more Board-level Chief Digital Information Officer roles in the NHS, combining clinical, commercial, innovation, and digital skills.

Debbie Loke: Funding challenges ahead

Debbie Loke, CIO and Director of Digital at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, acknowledges the perpetual challenge of funding in the NHS. With funding reductions expected in 2024/25, compounded by a general election, she anticipates a significant struggle to enhance productivity, recover services, and manage waiting lists amidst industrial action and an influx of patients with complex conditions.

Ben Jeeves: Focusing on workforce wellbeing

Ben Jeeves, Advanced Practice Physiotherapist and Associate Chief Clinical Information Officer at Midlands Partnership University NHS Trust, emphasises the workforce’s wellbeing as a paramount challenge. With pressures on recruitment, retention, clinical demands, and burnout, he advocates for a shift towards understanding digital at an individual level. Jeeves encourages initiatives that consider the personal impact of digital technologies on healthcare professionals.

Salu Sreedevi: Advancing clinical safety and transformation

Salu Sreedevi, Clinical Educator for Digital Safety and Transformation at Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, stresses the importance of a basic understanding of clinical safety case reports. Attending CNIO AP meetings as part of the Shuri Network, she highlights the need for efficient CSOs contributing to enhanced digital safety.

Richard Barrett: Embracing integration for future health

Richard Barrett, Cardiac Information Systems Administrator at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, underscores the pivotal role of integration in the digital health industry’s future. Hospitals are transitioning to integrated Electronic Patient Record systems and embracing technologies like Robotic Process Automation and RFID patient wristbands for improved patient care efficiency. Barrett envisions Integrated Care Systems bridging primary and secondary care nationally, fostering a unified healthcare record portal.

As the NHS prepares for 2024, these insights from its digital leaders provide a snapshot of the challenges and opportunities ahead in navigating the digital future of healthcare.