Digital Health

Supporting patients

Source: The King’s Fund

Putting patients first: championing good practice in combatting digital health inequalities

This report focuses on digital health inequalities and the impact that digital exclusion is having on health in the UK. It highlights different reasons for disparities in a person’s ability to access and use digital health technology and provides insights into the severity of the UK’s digital inequalities. It looks at four case studies demonstrating unique ways to combat digital health inequalities and improve access, and use of digital health technology for patients.

Patient engagement with digital health care: lessons from the Care City test bed

Health apps and digital tools have the potential to help alleviate some of the huge pressures the NHS faces from Covid-19, the backlog of care and rising demand. But introducing these tools into health care and supporting people to use them is never a quick fix, and they will not work for everyone. This summary provides a set of lessons for ensuring digital health innovations are applied in optimal ways for the people using them. The findings are based on a large-scale evaluation of digital technologies being implemented in health and social care in east London.

Saving and improving lives

The future of UK clinical research delivery

Source: The King’s Fund Health Management and Policy Alert

This policy document outlines the government’s vision to unleash the full potential of clinical research delivery to tackle health inequalities, bolster economic recovery and improve the lives of people across the UK.

The future of clinical research delivery sets out the vision for a more patient-centred, pro-innovation and digitally-enabled clinical research environment, which builds on the successes and the lessons we have learned in response to COVID-19 and harnesses the UK’s potential to capitalise on cutting-edge innovations across all treatments and technologies, all phases of research and all conditions.

Their vision puts clinical research delivery front and centre of our plans to build back better so we can tackle the healthcare challenges of the future and patients across the UK and around the world benefit from better health outcomes.

The 5 key themes underpinning the vision are:

  • clinical research embedded in the NHS
  • patient-centred research
  • streamlined, efficient and innovative research
  • research enabled by data and digital tools
  • a sustainable and supported research workforce

The goal is to create a clinical research delivery ecosystem which will shape the future of healthcare and improve people’s lives for years to come.

Kings Fund Online Event

Personalising digital tools for people with learning disabilities

The free online event will take place on Thursday 8th October, 12-1pm and will discuss examples of innovative digital solutions, considering how technology can help to personalise care for people with learning disabilities.

The event will feature:

  • practical ways of adjusting a digital tool to the individual using it, to make them feel more comfortable in their path to more independence
  • the importance of creative and empathetic attitudes in problem-solving in order to build tailored solutions
  • evidence for the benefits of using digital tools for people with learning disabilities and some cautionary tales, too
  • ways to involve the person, their family and carers at an early stage and throughout the decision-making process
  • the role of technology in promoting better health outcomes for people from disadvantaged groups and enhancing social inclusion

To book your place click here.