NHS Modernisation Bill: NHS organisations must balance digital push with patient safety
Clive Makombera, Partner and Head of NHS at RSM UK, comments on the NHS Modernisation Bill announced in the King’s Speech: “The bill centres on system restructuring, simplifying the patient safety and oversight landscape, and accelerating digital integration, while sustaining pressure to improve access and waiting lists.
“At the core of the reforms is the intention to build a single patient record, bringing a patient’s medical records together in one place. This will enhance patient safety and experience, enabling joined up, proactive care. It also implies a significant uplift in expectations for interoperability, data quality, information governance, and cyber resilience across NHS organisations and systems.
“Wider structural reforms to NHS governance, notably, the abolition of NHS England, reinforce a move towards a more clearly defined operating model across the system. Embedding patient voice in national decision-making, supporting Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) to become strategic commissioners and giving them flexibility in managing their local systems, will empower providers and allow them to design and deliver healthcare around local needs.
“While digital transformation is rightly at the forefront of the health reform agenda, the delivery of the NHS 10-Year Health Plan will depend just as heavily on strengthening risk management and governance. As patient safety, data and performance integrate and operating models evolve, organisations will need robust governance, clear accountability and strong system leadership to deliver transformation at the required pace and scale.”