The CNIO at NHS England has said a review into the digital readiness of nurses and midwives will help the profession ‘think collectively’.
Speaking at Summer Schools 2022 in York on July 15, Natasha Phillips introduced the Phillips Ives Nursing and Midwifery Review, which was first launched in May 2022.
Led by Dr Phillips and Dr Jeanette Ives Erickson, the aim of the review is to help inform strategy, ensuring that nurses and midwives are given access to the knowledge, skills and education required for safe, effective digitally-enabled practice.
“One of the main reasons why we’re doing this [the review] is we need to think about things collectively as a profession, which means we need to bring in the non-digital people,” she told attendees.
The review will consider seven themes organised under three advisory panels:
- Exploiting data and science (genomics and AI, data science and research)
- Person centred (nursing in a place-based health and social care system, merging technologies and opportunities)
- Practice and development (professionalisation of the specialist digital nursing and midwife workforce, workforce planning and preparation for practice)
Bridge to the future
The Summer Schools audience were also treated to a keynote from Matthew Taylor, chief executive and chair of the NHS Confederation.
He focussed on building “a bridge to the future” and spoke about key themes such as population health, data for research, digital services and the NHS App, stressing the importance of utilising digital in healthcare.
“When I think about digital, I think about all the ways it can help healthcare and address problems,” he said.
Taylor placed particular emphasis on virtual wards, describing them as a potential “game-changer” providing there is sufficient clinician and patient engagement.
On day one of Digital Health’s Summer Schools event, delegates heard from NHS Digital’s Simon Bolton, who said he believes the centre of the NHS can be run more efficiently by reducing the headcount and moving resources. The winners of the Digital Health Awards 2022 were also revealed.