We spoke with Daniel Woods, Project Manager, Assistive Technology in Primary Care, NHS Nottingham City Clinical Commissioning Group:
The Nottinghamshire Local Digital Roadmap (LDR) has already established a clear vision on current position and where it needs to be working with the national targets up to 2020.
The Notts LDR is constantly being reviewed ensuring project progress is up to speed and on target. Notts LDR is already on revision 2 to keep up with the transforming plans.
All partners are signed up to working as a system with some key workstreams identified. Some of these are;
- Information sharing of data, bringing Health and Social Care closer and better continuity for the patient.
- Mobile working for GPs. This will ensure the GP has the right information at the right time for the right person.
The Challenges?
A massive challenge to contend with is the vastly evolving technology. By the time a project has been commissioned and rolled out technology has already moved on with updates or new software or devices.
Technology generally is a huge area to implement. It is used by so many people in so many different ways it is important to connect to people in the right way with the right message.
Another Challenge is having financial shortfalls. The current financial environment is a challenge alone so it is another huge task to find a balance to embed technology, which will create efficiencies and saving but not impact on the health and care systems and services.
Information about some of the projects you are embarking on?
Some exciting work that is well underway and very available to the public is ‘Online Access’. This allows people access to their practice online to book appointments, order repeat prescriptions and view their own GP record. The vision has always been to empower the patient to be involved with their own health and care plans.
This work complements the vision of increasing self-care and giving people the right information, advice, guidance and even tools to self-manage their own health and care. Work is ongoing with Providers and the Local Authorities developing web tools allowing easy access to the correct information and guidance.
