The National Programme for IT has four key goals; electronic appointment booking, an electronic care records service, electronic transmission of prescriptions and fast, reliable underlying IT infrastructure with sufficient connectivity and broadband to support critical national applications and local systems.
The New National Network (N3) will provide Wide Area Networking (WAN) services to the NHS in England, substantially increasing bandwidth over the current system, NHSnet, whilst offering the taxpayer greater value for money and also enabling the implementation of the NCRS, the Electronic Booking Service and the Electronic Transmission of Prescriptions Service.
The NHS will improve dramatically under The National Programme of IT with ICT playing a huge role in the future development of NHS services. The Government’s vision is to deliver health information any time, any place in any format, thereby enabling patients to receive treatment how, when and where it is most appropriate for their care.
Through shared knowledge, “pockets of specialisation” will be developed where consultants and doctors can work together and through technology such as video conferencing medical professionals will be able to communicate with patients without either party having to travel. This technology, along with increased access to broadband, will enable patients to receive care and advice from across the world, with consultants and doctors having easy access to critical information when they need it, resulting in more accurate diagnosis and quicker decision-making.
Health and health related issues are among the most commonly researched topics on the Internet. Web contact centres enable patients to have access to preventative patient information with a subsequent reduction in the need for fewer consultations, with a direct, positive impact on surgery waiting lists.
In addition to the benefits of ICT to frontline healthcare services, improvements in technology will also have a significant impact on other services, such as emergency response and social care, enhancing the productivity and efficiency of these services and improving the care offered to patients.
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