At the NHS Transformation Symposium held on 26 September 2023, Richard Marsh shed light on the operational and strategic challenges faced by the NHS. He highlighted the historic focus on inputs rather than outputs and called for a more collaborative relationship with and across the industry.
Dr. Penny Dash, the opening speaker at the symposium, suggested that the NHS’s principal ailment could be “inputitis”, referring to an excessive concern with what goes into the delivery of healthcare rather than the results it produces. She emphasized the need to shift focus from the number of hospital beds to prevention measures that keep people from needing a hospital bed in the first place.
The same concern applies to companies approaching the NHS. The industry’s fixation on the product, or “input”, often overlooks the potential outcomes the product can deliver. To achieve the best results, products must be used optimally, requiring effort, resources, and partnership. Implementing this approach may lead to long-term gains.
The concept of “virtual wards” was presented as a promising solution with benefits for both patients and the health service. However, understanding the wider implications of caring for patients “virtually” is crucial to assessing the value of the various types of technology that make virtual wards a reality.
Truly innovative products are those that bring about significant transformation. However, transformation can be an uncomfortable experience, especially in an organization like the NHS, which is beset by day-to-day pressures. Therefore, industry–NHS partnerships should focus on helping the health service work through the challenges of transformation.
Companies need to understand what the NHS wants and look beyond Health Technology Assessment (HTA) to understand how value can be cultivated over an extended period. For AI-based innovations, co-creating answers to how ‘value’ is measured with the NHS is crucial.
The industry is calling for a more collaborative approach. This not only includes collaboration between industry and the health service but also within the industry itself. Despite the challenges, such alliances can help create an environment in which interactions can be more productive and beneficial, building trust.
While a collaborative approach from the industry may not cure the NHS of its “inputitis”, it can show that the industry is listening to its customers, marching in step with the desire to improve outcomes for patients, and creating a sustainable future for the NHS.
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