As the UK emerges from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems that the NHS is at risk of recovering at a slower rate than other health systems, research by the Nuffield Trust suggests.
The reasons for this are manifold. However, with elective services being scaled down and NHS waiting lists reaching 6 million, whilst 400 valuable NHS staff members are leaving their posts each week due to burnout, the long-term health of our NHS comes under question.
To cope with mounting pressures, the NHS needs to be supported, not just in coping with the demands of the pandemic but also in adapting to ensure its longevity.
Digital Revolution
The Department of Health and Social Care announced a £5.4 billion investment into the recovery of the NHS in September last year and the digital revolution must be incorporated into this.
Harnessing technology has the potential to free up essential staff members within the NHS on a day-to-day basis, improving the flow of patients through the NHS system.
During the pandemic, 31% of people found it difficult to access NHS services, pushing around 2 million people to use private services instead, a poll by YouGov found. However, increased digitalisation has the potential to play a significant role in increasing access to health services. Indeed, the government already aims to see 75% of adults in England through the NHS App by March 2024, making this the “new front door”.
A shift to online, that does not also exclude those without digital skills from accessing healthcare, could be the key to ensuring patients receive efficient treatment without overburdening the NHS.
Integrating care
In order for the NHS to deliver effective healthcare and an efficient allocation of resources, there cannot be disconnect between local services and main hospitals.
Integrating care can also ensure that patients receive quality care for all aspects of their health. For example, with those experiencing anxiety doubling during the first wave of the pandemic alone, a joined-up mental and physical healthcare service can ensure the NHS is able to offer patients the holistic care they need in the most efficient manner possible.
An alternative solution?
As NHS waiting lists continue to increase, and predictions say this will last until 2024, it’s clear that more must be done, and soon.
Embracing the shared care partnership model and promoting community-based care can offer an alternative solution.
The benefits of well-supported community-based health services, as pointed out by the chief medical officer at Aarhus University Hospital, Dr Jørgen Schøler Kristensen, can help bolster quick assessments and prompt treatments. In short, such a system prevents a build-up of patients in hospital beds.
It has been suggested that such a system has contributed to the fast and efficient recovery of the healthcare systems in both Denmark and the Netherlands, where hospital backlogs are almost back to pre-pandemic levels. At CHEC, we provide community-based systems as a model for the future of our healthcare in order to support the NHS and reduce the burden on its services.
Local clinics and “diagnostic hubs” that can offer a range of healthcare services, from routine eyecare services to cataract surgeries and endoscopies are the key to reducing pressure on the NHS and easing the backlog of over 6 million patients now waiting for care. The increased capacity of these local services enables them to relieve the burdens faced by the NHS.
The long-term future of the NHS is dependent on how we act now and the pandemic has undoubtedly highlighted the drastic differences in how health systems across Europe coped throughout the pandemic, and subsequently the direction in which their post-pandemic recovery is going. To protect the future of the NHS, we must start by enhancing its technology and digital infrastructure and realise the vast potential benefits of community-centric health services.
Imran Rahman, CEO and Consultant Ophthalmologist at CHEC
For further information - https://www.communityeyecare.uk/