The latest report by Lord Darzi into the state of UK healthcare paints a sorry picture of a system desperately in need of reform but also one where providers of ICT could be in a strong position to bring about necessary change through the judicious use of new technologies.
Lord Darzi, formally known as Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham, has held significant roles in shaping modern UK healthcare policy. These include serving as a parliamentary undersecretary of state in the Department of Health, so his expert insights carry considerable weight.
His latest investigation, commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), and titled Independent Investigation of the NHS (National Health Service) in England, highlights a concerning decline in the overall health of the UK population. After some progress in the early 2000s, life expectancy stagnated in the 2010s and declined during the Covid-19 pandemic. Although this is beginning to recover, both the absolute and relative proportions of our lives spent in ill health have reportedly increased, largely due to an increase in long-term conditions and worsening mental health.
For example, cancer care in England still lags behind other countries, leading to significant mortality rates. In terms of early diagnosis, no progress in detecting cancer at stages 1 and 2 was made between 2013 and 2021. Similarly, progress in cardiovascular disease mortality has rolled back since 2010, as rapid access to care has deteriorated. In addition, dementia diagnosis rates have not improved in recent years, with only 65% of patients being diagnosed with the condition. Rising rates of obesity, poor living conditions and financial disparities also contribute to the growing burden on the NHS.
Accessibility to services is another significant indicator of healthcare system performance. Access to NHS services has majorly declined, resulting in record waiting times for treatment. For instance, general practitioners are seeing more patients than ever before while the number of fully qualified professionals is rapidly falling, especially in deprived areas, leading to record-low satisfaction. Meanwhile, millions of people are also currently engaged with mental health services, yet nearly a million individuals are still waiting for care.
This backlog extends across other healthcare areas such as dentistry, with only 30-40% of NHS practices accepting new patients. NHS 111, the service intended to direct patients to appropriate care, struggles to keep up with call volumes. The average proportion of abandoned calls has been 11.3%, compared with the mandated 3% target. As a result, the NHS is consistently failing to meet its constitutional standards, including cancer care and routine surgeries, contributing to a decline in public satisfaction.
Considering the financial perspective, spending in the NHS is unbalanced, with a disproportionate amount of its budget going to hospital-based services while community and primary care are underfunded. This is despite the fact that healthcare policy has long aimed at shifting the balance towards more proactive, community-based care.
After years of underinvestment and strain, there is a reported £37bn shortfall in capital investment within the system. The missing budget would have been invested if NHS funding had matched its peer countries’ levels of capital investment since 2010. Apart from the exceptional funding boost in the Covid-19 period, NHS funding has increased by just over 1% in real terms each year for the past decade and a half. Productivity has declined, partially due to inefficiencies worsened by the pandemic and technological advancements that have not been fully utilised.
Innovative solutions in the fields of AI and predictive analytics are meant to enhance diagnostics, patient management, and resource optimisation. These solutions, however, must be met with significant investment in all care settings, and so far, the service has had too little funding for digital automation. Despite the challenges, it is inevitable that in the upcoming years suppliers specialising in AI-driven solutions and automation will find a growing market, particularly in areas such as diagnostics, research, and routine process optimisation. Furthermore, as the report notes, the NHS App has underutilised potential, and there is a broader need to create a seamless ‘digital-first’ experience for patients. This opens doors for prospective suppliers providing user-centric patient engagement tools and remote monitoring systems that can integrate smoothly with existing NHS applications. Replacing ageing infrastructure is also crucial for the health service. Suppliers offering scalable, adaptable technologies that can bridge gaps in legacy systems will be essential.
Overall, the investigation paints a sobering picture of the NHS, with challenges rooted in the broader political and economic landscape. The nation’s declining health, an overwhelmed system, and chronic underfunding have brought the NHS to a tipping point. To recover, the system must confront its largest challenges, including shifting towards community care, re-engaging both patients and staff and, perhaps most relevant to GlobalData's readers, investing in modern technology. While these reforms will not be immediate, the NHS has the potential to regain its strength if the required action is taken.
