Towards a Digital Ecology: NHS Digital Adoption through the COVID-19 Looking Glass

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK to adopt technology in a way that had never been seen before. This book explores the story of digital technology take-up in the NHS through the lens of the pandemic, examining the painful process of reengineering a mammoth and byzantine system built for a different era. The digital health sector is a microcosm of the wider healthcare system, with competing discourses of social inequality, public trust, private versus commercial interests, values and beliefs. This book offers a critique of the role of digital technologies within healthcare and examines competing interests, approaches, and ideologies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 258 pages
Publication date: 28 February 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a watershed moment for the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom, accelerating the adoption of digital technologies in healthcare. This book explores the challenges and opportunities that have emerged during this period, highlighting the ways in which digital technologies have been used to improve patient care, streamline healthcare processes, and enhance communication between healthcare providers.

One of the key challenges facing the NHS during the pandemic has been the need to rapidly scale up its digital capabilities to meet the increasing demand for healthcare services. This has required the implementation of a range of digital technologies, including electronic health records (EHRs), telemedicine, and remote patient monitoring. EHRs have allowed healthcare providers to access patient information in real-time, reducing the risk of errors and improving patient care. Telemedicine has enabled healthcare providers to provide care to patients remotely, reducing the need for in-person visits and improving access to care for patients in rural and remote areas. Remote patient monitoring has allowed healthcare providers to monitor patients' health status remotely, reducing the need for hospital visits and improving patient outcomes.

Another challenge facing the NHS during the pandemic has been the need to enhance communication between healthcare providers. Digital technologies have been used to facilitate communication between healthcare providers, including the use of secure messaging platforms, video conferencing, and virtual care teams. This has allowed healthcare providers to collaborate more effectively, share information more efficiently, and improve patient care.

Despite the many benefits of digital technologies in healthcare, there are also concerns about their impact on patient privacy and security. Digital technologies collect and store large amounts of patient data, which can be vulnerable to cyberattacks and data breaches. This has led to calls for greater regulation of the digital health sector to ensure that patient data is protected and used responsibly.

In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a transformative moment for the NHS, accelerating the adoption of digital technologies in healthcare. While there are many challenges and opportunities that have emerged during this period, digital technologies have the potential to improve patient care, streamline healthcare processes, and enhance communication between healthcare providers. However, it is important to ensure that these technologies are used responsibly and with respect for patient privacy and security.

Weight: 662g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032108667