Labour’s Fit for the Future Fund to increase tech in the NHS
how Labour's Fit for the Future Fund aims to digitally transform the NHS, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and reducing waiting times.
Labour has a vision for a technologically advanced National Health Service (NHS) "Fit for the Future Fund," which aims to reduce waiting lists and propel the healthcare system into a new digital age. The fund, generously earmarked at an additional £171m per year, is an approach to harnessing the power of cutting-edge technology, particularly diagnostic equipment, to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of patient care.
The fund is envisioned to double the number of CT and MRI scanners across the NHS over a parliament, with a stipulation that trusts procure scanners embedded with artificial intelligence tools. This is not just about increasing numbers; it's about elevating the quality and precision of diagnoses, thereby accelerating the patient care process. For trusts that are already equipped with up-to-date scanners, the fund pivots to enhance other technological and equipment aspects to boost productivity, ensuring that the financial resources are optimally utilised to elevate overall healthcare delivery.
Labour’s shadow health secretary, Wes Streeting, MP, encapsulates the essence of this initiative, highlighting that the technology available today has the potential to significantly reduce staff workload, enhance diagnostic accuracy, and expedite patient treatment. The Fit for the Future Fund is not just a financial plan; it’s a commitment to arm the NHS with the technological prowess it needs to reduce waiting lists and ensure timely patient treatment. It’s a step towards shifting the NHS’s focus towards earlier illness detection and faster treatment, which is beneficial for patients and more cost-effective for taxpayers.
However, the context of this initiative is deeply embedded in the current state of the NHS’s technological and diagnostic capabilities. Research by the King’s Fund reveals a stark reality where the NHS lags, having fewer scanners per person than other comparable countries, such as Japan, New Zealand, Greece, and the US. The waiting lists for diagnostic tests and scans have tripled since 2010, and despite a target for 99% of patients to wait less than six weeks for a diagnostic test, this hasn’t been achieved since February 2017. Over 158,000 patients have been waiting for over 13 weeks, underscoring the critical need for a robust intervention.
The responses from Freedom of Information requests unveil that nearly half of NHS trusts (48%) are still utilising an MRI or CT scanner that has surpassed its recommended lifespan of 10 years. This poses a risk to diagnostic accuracy and underscores the urgent need for an upgrade and enhancement of equipment across the board.
Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive at NHS Providers, perceives the fund proposal as a positive stride towards addressing the outdated equipment in the NHS, which could potentially help bring down the record-high waiting list. He emphasises the importance of also addressing underlying challenges, such as workforce shortages and ongoing industrial action, to ensure the plan does not fall short. According to him, the plan's success hinges on the meticulous details of its funding and implementation, including clear resource allocation, timelines, and financial plan transparency.
The Fit for the Future Fund, which will be financed by abolishing the non-dom tax status and allowing individuals who live and work in Britain to pay their taxes overseas, is not merely a financial strategy. It’s a vision for a modernised NHS, where technology and healthcare converge to provide optimal, timely, and efficient patient care. It’s a vision where the NHS is not just equipped but empowered to navigate the future of healthcare, ensuring every patient has access to timely, accurate, and efficient healthcare services.