Digital specialists will join with NHS England’s cancer and mental health national policy teams to help clinicians and policymakers improve patient experience through technology.
The digital experts will support teams in making it easier for patients to access services through smartphones, giving clinicians access to the relevant diagnostic information about a patient, and making it easier to collect and use health data which can benefit research and patients.
‘I love the NHS – it has been there for all of us for more than 70 years and we owe the incredible doctors, nurses and care workers an enormous amount of gratitude for their dedication,’ said Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock
‘NHSX will be led by the brilliant Matthew Gould, and will harness the full potential of technology to improve patient experience and make our NHS the very best it can be. Matthew has a wealth of experience in managing large digital projects and I am delighted to have him on board.’
NHSX is the new joint organisation for digital, data and technology. Its mission statement is to make sure patients and staff have the digital technology they need.
From July, NHSX will mandate the use of internationally recognised technology and data standards across the NHS to ensure all systems can talk to each other.
‘The NHS Long Term Plan builds on significant recent progress to a more digital NHS, from providing free WiFi, to helping the most advanced hospitals push the latest advances, to an Apps Library showcasing a range of digital tools that can help the public take charge of their own health,’ said Dr Simon Eccles, Chief Clinical Information Officer for Health and Care.
‘To ensure the benefits of new digital technology can reach patients right across the country, experts from the NHS and government will be working closer together as part of NHSX to help the NHS go further, faster.’