New digital support for community nurses in 10-year plan
The government has announced plans for a digital overhaul of community-based health services as part of the move towards a Neighbourhood Health Service as part of the 10-year health plan.
A new digital platform will be rolled out across NHS provider organisations with new developments to the NHS App, including remote patient monitoring and a Single Patient Record.
The use of generative AI
The platform will include scheduling and tracking tools and use generative AI to draft initial care plans using patients’ health data alongside best-practice guidelines.
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These draft plans are expected to be reviewed by a healthcare professional, in collaboration with patients.
The platform will also use ambient AI to capture ‘relevant information’ during patient consultations.
It is hoped these changes will support health professionals to detect early signs of health deterioration before emergency admissions become necessary.
More nurses needed for plan to work
In response to the plans, chief executive and general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), Professor Nicola Ranger, said digital developments can only succeed with a strong nursing workforce.
‘Ministers are right to exploit the advances of technology in the plan, but they shouldn’t be seduced by them while tens of thousands of nursing posts lay empty.
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‘To make [these] commitments a reality, the secretary of state must produce a detailed and fully funded plan to grow our registered nurse workforce, especially in crucial community roles, in addition to the Chief Nursing Officer’s strategy and swift progress to reform and stabilise social care,’ she said.
The government has said it will adopt a ‘national approach’ to sourcing technology that meets professionals’ critical safety and operational needs, including via GPS tracking, emergency alert buttons and live video for emergency response.
The chief executive of the Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing (QICN), Steph Lawrence, said: ‘The safety of nurses working in the community often in challenging circumstances and environments is paramount and this move towards additional technology to support this is very much welcomed.’
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