This week we saw hundreds of professionals from the NHS gather at the Excel in London for the Healthcare Excellence Through Technology (HETT) show.
In 1948 when Aneurin Bevan designed the healthcare system he said: ‘The NHS will last as long as there are folk with faith to fight for it.’
Now, in 2019 the NHS is a very different picture from the originally designed NHS, undoubtedly we have come leaps and bounds with technological advances and medical advancement but along with the achievements, there are a string of problems the NHS is currently faced with.
A struggling workforce, the winter crisis and doctors unable to keep up with demand. Despite all this, earlier this year we have seen the release of the long-term plan to help ease some of these pressures.
And, it seems only right that the health secretary, Matt Hancock, has a strong interest in technology.
This year’s HETT show had a strong focus on four key areas: digitally empowered patients, culture and implementation, integration and interoperability and digital maturity.
The HETT show promised to bring in all the big names in technology and the NHS, and that it did. Sarah Wilkinson, Chief Executive of NHS Digital delivered a keynote speech on the frontier planning for the future digital health landscape of England.
Meanwhile, Matthew Gould, Chief Executive Officer from NHS X delivered a keynote speech on understanding and expanding on the role and aims of NHS X. Tara Donnelly presented as part of the Culture and Implementation stream, and said:
.@tara_donnelly1
“At @NHSX we’ve been listening to industry and suppliers and know that standards and interoperability are key things to get right.”#HETT19 pic.twitter.com/9bXahAkump— NHSX (@NHSX) October 2, 2019
Our Chief Digital Officer, @tara_donnelly1, talking on how we’re delivering digital transformation through ‘thin’ national platforms, standards and tools, and supporting local areas in their digital provision. #HETT19 pic.twitter.com/wDqj56IOxE
— NHSX (@NHSX) October 2, 2019
The show provided delegates with many lessons that they can pick-up and implement in their trusts, organisations, and practices. There were case studies that provided hope to healthcare professionals who may feel the current pressures the NHS faces.
Dr Reggie Sangha, Medical Director from Care UK outlined ways in which practices can safely reduce GP workload with receptionist triage and signposting. In her presentation, she talked through a programme that is currently being used, known as Practice Plus service from Care UK.
Julie Wood, Chief Executive Officer from NHS Clinical Commissioners joined a panel to discuss how to create ICSs and STPs and how this would aid on the journey of digital transformation.
The culture and implementation stream had a strong focus on leadership within the NHS with a presentation on: ‘how to prepare your workforce for digital-first healthcare.’ There was also a session on: ‘diversifying the pathways to digital leadership in the NHS.’ There were learning opportunities from presentations on what the NHS can learn from other industries that have undergone successful digital transformation, one of the presenters for this was David Cox, the National Medical Director’s Clinical Fellow for Health Education England (HEE).
The lunch break allowed delegates to network with each other and also make contacts with exhibitors and talk to them about some of their latest products and innovations.
Two days of jam-packed presentations, key note speeches and case studies and ways in which technology can help the NHS finally came to an end. Well, looks like we will have to wait to see what developments emerge during 2020 to help the NHS and of course for another instalment of the UK’s largest healthcare event.
HTN caught up with some of the exhibitors and this is what they had to say…
Vijay Magon, Managing Director, CCube Solutions “We’re an SME based in the UK and we do a great deal of work in the secondary care sector helping trusts to deliver paperless healthcare. We also are making it easier for NHS users to use information electronically. The HETT event has been up and down and the footfall has varied a great deal. However, contact with the delegates has been good. My plans for 2020 – of course, to keep doing what we are doing, we have a strong customer base so a focus to maintain that. Recently, we have been doing quite a lot of work in AI.”
Drew Ivan, Executive Vice President, Product and Strategy, Rhapsody “Rhapsody is an innovation engine that is in use in hospitals throughout the world and we have recently merged with another company in July of this year, Corepoint Health, which means, we are now twice the size. We are growing in terms of people and global presence.”
“The HETT event has been good – we have had a steady amount of traffic. It’s our first time exhibiting here and we weren’t sure what to expect but it has been great.”
John Sanderson, Director, HICOM “We have a platform that delivers electronic medical records. The patient app is the latest innovation we have, we have had a trial in the UK, a major release in the UAE and that has helped us prove there is benefit in delivering optimal patient care. The app helps patients ensure they are taking their medicine on time, being referred back to clinics and providing them with education on individual care.”
“Engagement has been good, footfall has been lower than I expected but the quality of delegates has been higher as I have seen genuine interest from them. So far – so good.”
Ben Coulburn, Regional Business Manager, TPP “We have been working hard on our mental health solution, we launched this in 2014 and since then worked with 16 trusts – so more pushing into the mental health market next year. The event has been really good, we have had some positive feedback and I have spoken to some great people.”
