Weekend Feature: Maintaining Momentum with Digital Transformation in the NHS

Matt Dykes, COO, Abzorb looks at ways of maintaining Momentum with Digital Transformation in the NHS

The Covid-19 global pandemic has accelerated the adoption of technology in the NHS, and the difference it makes to streamlining processes, automating tasks, sharing data, and improving the staff and patients’ experience is apparent.

Realisation that it is not just technology alone that makes a difference but combined with people and processes is a powerful changing force. No organisation made more immediate and urgent changes than the NHS in the pandemic. The ability to change meant acting with agility, breaking traditional governance, and working in new ways with technology solutions and collaborating more closely than ever before.

This has bought about a new flexible, creative, and risk-taking culture where the changes have been welcomed by staff who hope to carry on working this way rather than returning to the antiquated ways pre-pandemic.

Building a Solid Foundation
One of the biggest challenges NHS organisations faces is the amount of legacy technology they have available in their enormous telecom estate. With unified communication solutions you only pay for the seats you use enabling you to migrate to IP network at your own pace, and at the same time protecting your investment on the legacy technology.

WIFI and Mobile Connectivity
Having a robust and resilient telecom and wi-fi infrastructure is paramount to an NHS organisation as is mobile technology and connectivity. It cannot afford to fail especially when lives could be at stake.

The BT and iGov survey indicate that over 70 per cent of NHS strongly agree that the strength and reliability of their network, wi-fi infrastructure and mobile technology will be essential to the next phase of their digital transformation strategies.

As remote and hybrid working continues the need for mobile and smart phones and unified communications solutions will increase. Areas where broadband connectivity is poor such as rural areas can be addressed with various solutions, such as mobile broadband, where the user is given the flexibility to switch over to another network that will provide them with increased broadband capacity without a penalty cost.

Re-engineering Processes & Empowering People
The use of technology over the last two years has improved processes and made doctors, clinicians, and other staff roles easier and more effective than prior to the pandemic. And many want to retain the existing processes and ways of working as they are more efficient.

NHS organisations must not lose sight of this progress and modernisation and look to the long term to maintain the momentum continuing to evolve and improve.

Change in Leadership
The NHS previously has been bound by strict governance and during the last two years they have had to be nimble and agile implementing plans and making decisions faster than ever before, ignoring the policies that have shackled them and just acting and carrying out what needs to be done. Particularly around the use of technology with the remote consultations, staff working remotely, new apps etc. As a result of this leaders will come out of the pandemic as more flexible, open minded and willing to change accordingly to make improvements to the staff and patient experience.


Changes in Culture
The workplace around the world in almost every industry has changed forever including the NHS with the acceleration and ubiquitous use of digital technology, remote working, newly discovered ways of working that are more flexible, transparent and focus on collaboration have inevitably resulted in a change in culture. Surprisingly the iGov and BT survey revealed that one of the biggest challenges around digital transformation is the cultural resistance which is 60%. This will have to be combatted with a change in culture that is communicated from above, technological solutions will have to be made user friendly, empowering and involving employees in the digital decisions along with comprehensive training.

Carrying on Your Digital Transformation Strategy
By implementing a long-term strategy with a technology partner, creating a new culture, and working closely with your staff you can maintain the agility, innovation and collaborative dynamic culture that has been experienced since the pandemic. The objective not only being to maintain it but to also develop and evolve your digital transformation strategy making it stronger and yielding the benefits of improved patient and staff experience.