How healthtech can help the NHS frontline

Professor Rory Shaw, chairman of Feedback Medical, explains why technology can both keep retired doctors safe and encourage them to return to work.

×

Expand

Coronavirus has upended all aspects of life as we know it, and there is no doubt that we are living in unprecedented times. Never before have I seen such intense pressure placed upon our health service and its resources – nor such widespread initiatives implemented.  

Across the UK, we’ve seen temporary hospitals established with great efficiency. The Nightingale in London alone has nearly 4,000 beds. We’ve seen endless pictures of exhausted staff, with bruises on their faces from wearing protective masks, and ordinary people across the UK joining together to offer their support. 

The scale of this effort is huge, and the NHS would benefit from this extra support. Which is why in March, they issued letters to retired staff asking them to return to the NHS to help. By the end of the month, an incredible 20,000 retired staff had agreed to return to the NHS to try and ease the burden. 

Doctors will always want to help in a crisis, it’s what they do. However, this request to return to clinical practice is not a light undertaking. Especially as many now fall into the at-risk group. There are many qualified professionals out there with underlying health conditions or comorbidities, who wish to help the NHS but are faced with a troubling dilemma. 

This wide pool of talent is an important resource for the NHS, which is why it’s vital that we provide this section of the workforce with the best possible tools to deliver in this challenging environment.

We’ve already seen how technology has revolutionised GP appointments, allowing GPs to work safely at home, meaning that people can continue to seek medical advice without needing to put their health at further risk. 

A similar transformation is needed within secondary care, however this comes with additional complexity owing to the importance of medical imaging and other investigations as part of clinical decision making. As more staff have to self-isolate, we need tools that support remote working and facilitate better, more efficient collaboration amongst clinical colleagues.

We must engage with clinicians who need to remain isolated, or who are in quarantine. Their expertise will help to ensure the NHS continues to deliver a high standard of on-going care while we overcome this crisis. It’s been humbling to see health techs all across the UK taking up this call-to-arms, supporting the NHS where they’re able to and showing how much value innovation can bring. 

At Feedback Medical, our tool Bleepa is free for all NHS frontline staff while we overcome this crisis. Bleepa allows for medical grade images to be reviewed securely from a personal device, from any location. This means that clinicians can use their mobile phones, laptops and desktops to annotate and discuss cases, providing input no matter where they’re located.  

Our health service is undeniably doing an incredible job in unforeseen circumstances – we need to make sure we’re removing any barriers to further support. To help support frontline staff, we must look at technology which can help.