While the development of digital health technologies seems to be catapulting across the UK, the country is still lagging behind in deployment, warns a report.
The Human Factor: Driving digital solutions for 21st century health and care – a report led by the National Centre for Universities and Business – suggests that a reason for this is the lack of digitally literate healthcare professionals.
Recognising the need for collaboration, 85% of academic clinicians believe professional bodies must work together on higher standards of digital skills in healthcare, according to the report.
A further 50% of those believe that healthcare professionals are risk averse in translating digital technology in digital practice.
Beverley Bryant, chief operating officer, System C and Graphnet Care Alliance and co-chair of the report, said: “The UK must seize the prize of becoming one o the top digital health and social care systems and economies on the planet.
“The health and care system as we know it today can truly transform itself, with digital as an enabler and catalyst.”
However, the UK is struggling to keep up with its digitally savvy European counterparts, according to a report published last year, revealing that the country ranks 19th out of 29 in the provision of digital public services.
Although things are looking brighter as the country has been bulking up on its digital initiatives as of late, with the work of Greater Manchester as a noteworthy reference.
