The NHS could get stuck in a 'technological dark age' if it continues to be over-reliant on face to face treatment, a report from the NHS Confederation has said.
The report found that for a growing number of patients, managing healthcare remotely through modern communication technologies was a better option. But it said health services have 'struggled' to adopt technologies, and that top down management and a lack of engagement with clinicians and patients meant telemedicine and telecare initiatives had failed to 'truly take off', despite some progress being made.
Acting chief executive Nigel Edwards said technology had the potential to improve care and better focus resources, stating that the NHS had to "keep up".
He said: "There are lots of pilots and studies showing how new communications technologies can improve care but they are rarely fully taken up so we know important barriers still remain in taking up these new technologies. The most important of these is the cultural barrier that people working in the NHS and patients have to the use of technology in health care.
"We need to address these barriers as people increasingly expect to access services online. It simply can not be sustainable in the health service of the future for skilled NHS staff to continue to send on referral letters using second class post."
The report found that for a growing number of patients, managing healthcare remotely through modern communication technologies was a better option. But it said health services have 'struggled' to adopt technologies, and that top down management and a lack of engagement with clinicians and patients meant telemedicine and telecare initiatives had failed to 'truly take off', despite some progress being made.
Acting chief executive Nigel Edwards said technology had the potential to improve care and better focus resources, stating that the NHS had to "keep up".
He said: "There are lots of pilots and studies showing how new communications technologies can improve care but they are rarely fully taken up so we know important barriers still remain in taking up these new technologies. The most important of these is the cultural barrier that people working in the NHS and patients have to the use of technology in health care.
"We need to address these barriers as people increasingly expect to access services online. It simply can not be sustainable in the health service of the future for skilled NHS staff to continue to send on referral letters using second class post."
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