Building Better Healthcare has taken a look at the latest technologies NHS Trusts have integrated into their systems to advance their digital evolution in December 2024.
December saw the launch of the Digital Clinical Safety Standards Review by NHS England.
The purpose of the review is to assess the digital clinical safety standards, DCB0129 and DCB0160.
According to the review, this is to ensure the standards remain "up-to-date and practical, aligning with advancements in healthcare technology and clinical practice."
December saw the launch of the Digital Clinical Safety Standards Review by NHS England
The DCB0129 and DCB0160 standards are essential for maintaining the safety of clinical systems and ensuring their effective integration into healthcare settings.
In particular, the review will focus on two key areas:
- AI in healthcare: Emerging AI-driven tools and systems can be beneficial, but also introduce new safety concerns that will require updated frameworks to mitigate potential risks.
- Cybersecurity threats: With healthcare systems increasingly targeted by cyberattacks, standards need to evolve to incorporate measures that will better protect digital and clinical safety.
For this review, NHS England will gather input from:
- Healthcare providers: To understand the practical implications of implementing these standards.
- IT manufacturers and developers: To ensure the standards remain relevant for systems development and integration.
- Digital health experts: To align with current technological advancements and risks.
The review is expected to:
- Improve patient safety by ensuring digital systems are reliable and minimise risks.
- Streamline compliance for healthcare providers and IT vendors.
- Support innovation in digital health without compromising safety.
However, so far, many NHS Trusts have successfully integrated AI into healthcare and implemented other digital solutions to tackle ongoing issues such as long waiting times, and backlogs and to streamline the time-consuming admin process.
The partnerships
The Trusts and companies that have made partnerships are:
- Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
- System C
- Mid & South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
- Hexarad
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Schneider Electric
- Social care settings
- System C
- Hospitals
- RFiD Discovery
An Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration system
Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust has successfully gone live with its Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (EPMA) system.
The EPMA system was provided by System C, a UK-based specialist in health information technology.
Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust has successfully gone live with its (EPMA) system
The successful launch in the Paediatric Critical Care Unit is part of Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust’s commitment to provide better care to patients and its ongoing digital journey.
Following this rollout, the Trust plans to implement the EPMA system in additional areas, such as outpatient departments.
The Trust also plans to collaborate with System C to expand the critical care functionality, enabling pediatric continuous drug infusions.
A cloud-based software tool
Hexarad, a UK-based health technology, has implemented its OptiRad technology at Southend Hospital.
OptiRad is a cloud-based software tool that optimises how a radiology department works.
Using the technology, Southend Hospital, part of Mid & South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (MSE), saved £153,000 annually.
A 12-month assessment revealed that the tool boosted reporting output by 12.1%
The saving is equivalent to two full-time consultant radiologist salaries—thanks to productivity gains from Hexarad’s OptiRad software.
OptiRad was able to achieve this through a forecasting capacity, delivering performance analytics, and performing key administration tasks that would otherwise have to be done by a radiologist.
A 12-month assessment also revealed that the tool boosted reporting output by 12.1%, leading to cost savings through reduced outsourcing.
Additionally, turnaround times were cut by 18%, enabling faster diagnoses and improved patient outcomes.
Healthcare automation
Schneider Electric, a France-based energy management and automation company, has partnered with Nottingham University Hospitals NHS (NUH) Trust to trial new technologies, including personalised, voice-activated room controls for patients.
The technology allows patients to control room features like temperature, blinds, and lighting through a bedside terminal or voice activation, which is especially useful for patients with reduced mobility.
The technology allows patients to control room features like temperature
As well as having a positive impact on patients, the technology can alleviate pressure on staff and give them more time to focus on patient care.
The pilot scheme is taking place at Linden Lodge, NUH’s 25-bed neuro-rehabilitation unit, to evaluate innovative technologies.
The goal is to select the best solutions for the new National Rehabilitation Centre, set to open in Summer 2025 following a £105m investment from the UK government.
Artificial Intelligence
System C has also developed an AI Assistant for social care in partnership with Microsoft, one of the world's leading technology companies.
The AI Assistant will support social care practitioners by reducing their admin burden.
Frontline workers can record assessments or meetings via smartphone or laptop, and the AI Assistant will transcribe the audio and auto-fill required workflows, improving accuracy and reducing time spent on administrative tasks.
The AI Assistant can save frontline workers up to 45 minutes per assessment
The AI Assistant can save frontline workers up to 45 minutes per assessment, potentially saving over £1m annually for local authorities.
Integrated into System C’s Liquidlogic software for social care, the solution uses a secure Microsoft-hosted version of the ChatGPT model to generate draft responses in forms, cross-referencing them with meeting content.
This reduces administrative burden, allowing practitioners to focus more on patients.
System C is testing the solution with local authorities, including Cheshire East Council, to assess its real-world benefits and scalability.
Tracking solutions
RFID Discovery, a UK-based provider of tracking solutions for the healthcare sector, has launched a new mapping functionality for its passive Radio Frequency Identification ( RFID) asset tracking system.
This feature provides a solution to the growing pressure on healthcare facilities to improve efficiency.
Hospitals can view the locations of passively tracked assets on an interactive map, improving operational efficiency and patient care.
Hospitals can view the locations of passively tracked assets on an interactive map, improving operational efficiency and patient care
By displaying asset locations on a map instead of in a list, hospitals can quickly identify where assets, such as hospital beds, are located, reducing search time.
The feature builds on existing mapping functionality for BLE and GPS tracking, providing real-time location data with up to two metres accuracy.
It extends this functionality to passive RFID-tagged assets, which are more cost-effective than active tags, allowing broader use across equipment.