A new data strategy for the NHS, continued

The NHS is a federation rather than a unified body to a far greater extent than is sometimes realised and some trusts have embraced new technology to a greater extent than others.

We are badly behind on some aspects of digital healthcare in Cumbria and I have been making a fuss about this since I was appointed to Cumbria Health Scrutiny committee. 

It would be churlish and unfair to deny that there has been progress  but we STILL have the position where trolley-loads of hard copy patient records are being wheeled round hospitals like West Cumberland hospital, a fortune is spent driving these hard copy records around Cumbria to and from storage and highly-paid medical professionals are spending some of their priceless and scarce time logging them in and out.

So I welcome the fact that the government is still working on their strategy for better use of patient data and making more use of digital solutions to offer better service to patients, as indicated when today the government announced the latest stage of the Plan for Digital Health and Social Care, using technology to free up hospital capacity and bust the Covid backlogs.

• The government committed to investing £2 billion in the Spending Review to digitise the NHS and social care sector, to drive efficiency and release billions of pounds back to the NHS.

• Measures taken as part of this plan include improving the NHS App and NHS.uk to provide faster, more personalised treatment. Bringing information into the App will help people to view and manage hospital appointments, have virtual consultations, and see notifications from their GP – supporting an extra 500,000 patients to manage their condition from home.

• This investment in a health and social system fit for the 21st century will help people across the country to benefit from faster, more personalised healthcare. 

A new data strategy for the NHS

We still have the extraordinary situation that the NHS in North Cumbria still makes major use of paper records - and we have people pushing trolley loads of paper notes around hospitals like WCH, and spend lots of money and time driving them around the county and checking them in and out. 

I have repeatedly asked about the plans to improve patient digital records and move our local health service into the 21st century at meetings of Cumbria Health Scrutiny and will continue to do so during my remaining few months on the committee.

Given the urgent need to improve this, I was delighted to see that this week the government has announced a new Data Strategy to support our NHS as it meets the challenges of the future, tackles the Covid backlog and delivers better care for patients across the country. 

• Having seen the benefits of the NHS App during the pandemic, the government have committed to support the NHS in more modern ways to meet the challenges of the future holds.
• So they have announced an new NHS Data Strategy will use data to drive greater efficiency, supporting the NHS both to clear the Covid backlog and in normal operation. Patients will have better access to their GP records through the NHS App and the government is investing £25 million to help ensure that 80 per cent of social care providers have digital records by March 2024.
• The power of data will bring benefits to all parts of health and social care - millions of patients will benefit from faster, more innovative treatment and diagnosis as we Build Back Better.

£40 million next phase of West Cumberland Hospital development forges ahead

 I visit West Cumberland hospital most weekdays and it is very obvious that the builders have been hard at work for months on the redevelopment of the hospital to provide more modern facilities.

Recently the £40 million next stage of the redevelopment was approved and a brick-laying ceremony was held at the end of May to mark the progress if phase two of the work and further redevelopment project to improve the facilities at West Cumberland Hospital.

Plans include replacing up to 40 per cent of the original hospital and building upon the £90m investment from phase one of the project which was completed in 2015.

The new build will include a paediatric ward and assessment area, a care of the elderly ward, a specialist palliative care ward and a stroke/rehabilitation ward, while keeping the number of beds and retaining services for the site.

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Lyn Simpson said: 

“Today’s event marks another milestone in the delivery of a much improved environment for both patients and staff at the West Cumberland Hospital.

“The designing and planning of phase two has been a very collaborative process between our clinical teams. To see the beginning of the work is extremely exciting for everyone involved.”

“This is fantastic news for the local community and for our teams here, we know how much this hospital means to everyone and making sure it is fit for the future is so important to all of us here today.”

The event was attended by NCIC chair Peter Scott and executive director of performance, planning and strategy Dean Oliver alongside others from the trust who have been the driving force behind the project.

Peter Reavey, regional director for appointed contractor GRAHAM, said: “

We know that a lot of work has gone into reaching this point and our team is committed to carrying that determination and passion forward as the construction programme gets underway.”

The Children and Young People’s unit will be one of the areas being housed in the new build.

Ben Frampton, lead nurse for the unit at NCIC, said: 

“This is an exciting time for our team, we have had a lot of input into the design of the new ward and wanted to be sure we are putting patients, families and staff at the heart of what we do by listening to all of their views.

“When asked to contribute to ideas for the design of the new ward we wanted to guarantee it worked for our patients and their families. No one wants to have to bring their child to hospital, but if you do find yourself here you want to be cared for in the best environment possible.”

Andrea Hendren, matron for the Copeland Unit and the Loweswater Suite, said: 

“The patients we care for are at the end of their life, they want the opportunity to go outside in the sunshine, for some time away from the ward with their loved ones. The new facilities will be on the ground floor and will make these things possible and enable the staff to provide the most compassionate care to patients and their families.”

Dean Oliver, executive director of performance for NCIC, said: 

“We are now looking forward to continuing that good work with GRAHAM, who were appointed as the main building contractor last month, and all our other partners to deliver a first- rate hospital facility for the benefit of the entire community.”

Giving patients access to cutting edge medicine

I welcome the government announcement that a £340 million investment to offer patients earlier access to cutting-edge treatments, reducing waiting times, improving patient outcomes and tackling the Covid-19 backlogs.

• Early access to medicines and treatments can save lives while cutting waiting times, so it is vital that we offer these early interventions to as many patients as possible.
• So it is good news that  the government has announced an investment of £340 million through our Innovative Medicines Fund, which offers patients access to potentially transformative new drugs while further evidence is collected to inform on whether the treatment is clinically effective and a good use of taxpayer money in the long-term.
• The Innovative Medicines Fund  will fast-track cutting-edge medicines to adults and children to give them renewed hope for a better future.