Ehealth one of UK’s major future technologies

The government’s Council for Science and Technology (CST) has named e-health as one of the most promising technologies for the UK to focus on over the next five years, but says concerns over security and deployment timescales must be overcome.

The CST says that the potential to deliver and enhance health services through the internet and related technologies is large and the NHS should seize the opportunity to develop and exploit it.

In a report on strategic decision making for technology policy, it writes: “There are few countries in which a single organisation holds the entire nation’s medical records. Currently the UK has a competitive edge in the development of a national e-health programme that can be developed to allow the appropriate use of the information to improve patient health and safety.”

However, despite the positive outlook on the e-health programmes, the council warns of risks that must be addressed.

“The Council sees significant risks in at least three areas. First, there are concerns over how quickly it will be possible to embed this technology within the NHS. Second, there are risks that UK businesses – largely SMEs [small and medium enterprises] – will be unable to compete in the global market with the larger multinational IT solutions’ providers.

“Third, a number of concerns have been raised around security of data; anonymity; privacy; the type of data being sought; and the perceived relevance and potential benefits of the research. These concerns must be managed and overcome if the technology is to reach its full potential.”

The council recommends that a series of actions are taken to ensure the UK maintains its world leadership in e-health.

This includes ensuring that the necessary infrastructure and governance arrangements are in place, and that researchers and clinicians are fully engaged as the process is developed. Building on existing initiatives, such as Connecting for Health, should help to push this.

Other action points listed are: “One key requirement to enable patient record linkage and improve data quality and patient safety is to mandate the use of the NHS Patient Number. A unique identifier is seen as a major factor in the success of any linked electronic record system.

“Integral to the developments should be a programme of appropriate access to enable biomedical research and development. A major challenge is ensuring public support and confidence in an electronic system of medical records particularly when the information is used for purposes, such as research, not directly linked to their care.

“There is thus a considerable piece of public engagement work that must be done to ensure the public are supportive of the use of electronic technology in their care and for research.”

E-health was one of six key new technologies highlighted as being central to the UK’s future prosperity, in a report published today by the government’s top advisory group on science and technology.

Making up the other five were: carbon capture and storage, disaster mitigation technologies, plastic electronics, low carbon distribution networks for electricity supply and medical devices.

John Denham, innovation, universities and skills secretary, said: “I welcome this valuable report by the Council for Science and Technology. The UK is well known for its world-class science and technology. In order to translate this into wealth creation and social benefits we have to work to capitalise on new and lucrative technologies. It’s vital we exploit cutting-edge innovation to achieve global success.”

Professor Janet Finch, co-chair of CST said: “CST was pleased to be able to respond to a request from Government to advise on how to identify and prioritise the most important new technologies on the horizon for the UK. This country must ensure that the substantial investments in science and technology, skills and education that Government has made over the last ten years translate as effectively as possible into innovation and wealth creation.

“Government has an important role to play here, but we recognise that it cannot support everything. Choices have to be made about which are the most promising technologies on which to focus. Those choices are both challenging and complex. We have developed a mechanism to help Government make those difficult decisions. We have then applied our recommendations to identify six technologies where greater focus by Government now could accelerate the commercial and social benefits to the UK over the next five years”

Links

CST report "Strategic Decision Making for Technology Policy Making"

Joe Fernandez