At today's industry briefing at techUK, 19th February 2019, James Hawkins, Director of Strategy (ai), NHS Digital noted that, “Perhaps for the first time, technology and data are truly central to the future of the NHS and are recognised as such.”

The digital migration of the NHS, championed by Secretary of State Matt Hancock, is making significant progress.  To date, NHS Digital have contributed a number of digital initiatives, including the NHS app, Online 111, multiple apps for people to take control of their own health, and the paper switch off has been achieved.  It is envisaged that by 2021/22, every board of every local NHS organisation will have a Chief Clinical Information Officer (CCIO) and a Chief Information Officer (CIO).

This month has also seen the launch of NHSX, a new joint organisation which brings together leading talent from government, the NHS and industry.  The unit has been tasked with the digital transformation of the NHS with regard to digital, data and technology.  The formation of this new joint unit is a response to the fast-paced digital market, in a bid to ensure that both clinicians and patients can benefit from innovations in modern technology. This blog covers some key areas of innovation from the NHS Digital team. 

National Record Locator Service (NRLS)

Hadleigh Stollar, Programme Manager for Integrating Care, NHS Digital, provided an update on the National Record Locator Service (NRLS) project.  The NHS Developer webpage for NRLS states:

“The National Record Locator Service (NRLS) will enable an authorised clinician, care worker and/or administrator, in any health or care setting, to access a patient’s information to support that patient’s direct care.”

The aim of the project is to build a national record index for data providers and consumers.  The NRLS is being designed so that it will complement local initiatives, including integrating into existing clinical systems.  It will provide the underpinning technical capabilities that will facilitate integrated care. Find out more here: https://developer.nhs.uk/apis/nrls/

Message Exchange for Social Care and Health (MESH)

According to James Palmer, Programme Head at NHS Digital leading on Adult Social Care, the care provider sector is currently the least digitally mature in the system and will need to significantly improve to match health.  One key development has been the roll out of MESH, which has replaced the Data Transfer Service (DTS). 

MESH enables users from different organisations to communicate securely via electronic messages.  Messages are transferred directly from one application to another.  MESH can be accessed via the MESH client and has the capability to be accessed via other systems providing they have been integrated with MESH using the Application Programming Interface (API). 

One benefit of the new system is that it will allow for practitioners working across health and social care to communicate and provide a more joined up service to patients with complex health needs. Find out more here: https://bit.ly/2XeBRIX

NHS App / NHS Apps Library

The rollout of the NHS app is well underway, with the app now available to download from both Google Play and Apple.  Although functionality is somewhat limited at present, the NHS Digital team have been engaging with user feedback as part of the ongoing development process. 

Another new development is the addition of the NHS Apps Library.  Marcus Hinde, Programme Manager of the NHS Digital Apps and Wearables team, revealed that there are currently about 110 apps in the pipeline.  The NHS Apps Library (https://bit.ly/2Emdthb) can be accessed through its dedicated page and can be searched by category.  Patients searching for information about specific conditions will also see suggested apps that may be helpful to the conditions page they visit.

Mr Hinde highlighted that the vision of the Apps and Wearables team is to, "Enable health and social care professionals, citizens and patients to access trusted digital tools to improve health and wellbeing outcomes.”

The most common categories for apps at present include mental health, baby and child, diabetes, and health and fitness.  Mr Hinde noted that NHS Digital are working to ramp up the assessment of apps in the pipeline.  In order to achieve this, NHS Digital are currently looking for organisations that they can work with to test apps in the form of approved assessors. 

Information for Developers on submitting an app: https://bit.ly/2TYtZt7

For more information on becoming an Approved Assessor: https://bit.ly/2GTW6pm

Post Contributor:

Caitriona Fitzsimons Digital Reporter