New technology in the NHS: improved patient safety, care and efficiency

The NHS is rightly committed to the introduction of new ways of working that deliver improved patient safety, better care and greater efficiency at the same time. The role of technology is crucial: the Carter Review of English hospitals found that patient safety and efficiency could be improved through the introduction of new technologies such as barcodes. The six Scan4Safety demonstration sites are already showing the potential to improve everyday accuracy and efficiency. This is all the more important since, as recent University of York research estimated, there may be over 200 million medication errors a year in the NHS. This year, these ideas will form part of the Government’s plan for the long-term future of the NHS which, as the Prime Minister has said, will emphasise “efficiency” and “effectiveness” alongside a stable funding platform.

Reform was delighted to host a high-level roundtable on how to ensure that measures to advance patient safety will contribute to a more efficient NHS. It was held under the Chatham House Rule and in partnership with Zebra Technologies.