NHS England » Millions of patients benefit from improved care thanks to new NHS IT software

Innovative IT software designed to tackle waiting lists and reduce discharge delays has been rolled out to more than two thirds of the NHS.

The NHS Federated Data Platform securely brings together data currently held in separate systems, making it easier for staff to access key information so they can deliver faster and more collaborative care to millions of patients across the country.

A year on from its inception, 87 NHS acute trusts and 28 integrated care boards in England have now joined.

The platform brings together real-time data such as the number of hospital beds, the size of elective waiting lists, staffing levels, medication availability and social care placements so staff can better plan their resources.

New data published today shows that hospital trusts using the NHS Federated Data Platform have treated an average of 114 more inpatients in operating theaters every month since the tool was introduced.

The platform forms part of the NHS’s plan to reform patient care and ensure maximum value for taxpayers. Data shows new productivity initiatives have helped the NHS save £2 billion in the first 5 months of this financial year for reinvestment. in patient care.

Ming Tan, director of data and analytics at NHS England, said: “The NHS Federated Data Platform improves efficiency and speeds up the delivery of care, and I’m delighted that over 100 NHS organizations have already signed up to use the service in its first year.

“Its many benefits include the ability to identify those on waiting lists the longest, identify issues that can lead to same-day procedure cancellations, show when operating theaters are empty, and speed up discharges so patients get home faster.

“Hospital trusts using the tool are seeing dozens of new patients every month and we are working with NHS organizations to bring these benefits to as many patients as possible.”

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, one of the pilot sites, reported a 37% reduction in the number of days patients remained in hospital after they were ready to go home. Long-stay patients spent an average of 5 fewer days in hospital after they were ready to be discharged, freeing up beds for other patients.

Anna Hargrave, director of community services at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Over the past 18 months, this tool has allowed us to better use data to make operational changes that have resulted in improved performance.

“This is very positive for our staff, who are enjoying better working practices, and for our patients, who can leave hospital safely faster than they could a year and a half ago.”

Each hospital trust and local health system has its own version of the platform, which comes with a range of ready-to-use products. Additional products currently being tested include technology that determines where patients can be treated more quickly at the nearest hospital and a new tool that helps ensure patients with suspected cancer are seen, diagnosed and treated earlier.

York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the latest trust to join the NHS Federal Data Platform, which is working to improve the discharge process.

Abdi Abolfazl, deputy chief operating officer at York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The platform allows the trust to directly report actions to our local authorities and other community partners to support patient discharge, giving us a great opportunity to work together to get patients home faster.”

The NHS Federated Data Platform will also help trusts, regions and local health systems apply lessons learned from vaccination campaigns to deliver faster, more informed and comprehensive care to patients, and will also help the NHS address long-term challenges such as disease prevention. health and health inequalities.

In addition, the platform supports the government’s plans to introduce new technologies across the NHS to improve productivity, ensuring value for money for taxpayers.

More detailed information is available on the website National Health Service England website.