Catia Nicodemo, professor in well being economics at Brunel College of London (Picture supplied by Catia Nicodemo)
The overhaul of the NHS App, introduced within the authorities’s 10 12 months well being plan, might worsen well being inequalities, in accordance with teachers from Brunel College of London.
In a weblog submit, revealed on The Dialog, Catia Nicodemo, professor of well being economics at Brunel, raised considerations that making the app the entrance door to the NHS dangers “abandoning anybody who struggles with an more and more digital world”.
Wes Streeting, well being secretary, has claimed that new AI instruments on the app, introduced within the 10 12 months well being plan, will “democratise healthcare in a method by no means earlier than attainable” by offering NHS sufferers “with the identical ease and comfort that’s afforded to personal sufferers”.
Nevertheless Nicodemo mentioned that the plans might “exacerbate well being inequalities which exist already – and improve strain on some areas of already strained providers”.
“Particularly, a digital-first method to healthcare dangers excluding older adults, who might lack the abilities or sources to confidently navigate the required software program,” she added.
Nicodemo believes that the NHS wants to take care of conventional communication choices, reminiscent of phone and in-person providers, in order that the ten 12 months plan’s concentrate on ‘digital by default’ doesn’t turn into “digital solely”.
Dr Bryan McIntosh, reader in healthcare administration at Brunel, mentioned: “In the end it’s the poor and marginalised who’re forgotten. All the time.
“Expertise doesn’t should be dehumanising, but when it’s to keep away from that consequence it should be human-focused, not simply consumer-focused, and never simply digital-consumer-focused.”
Media regulator Ofcom estimates that round 6% of UK households lack web entry at residence and figures from the charity Age UK counsel that 33% of individuals over 75 within the UK lack fundamental digital expertise.
Elizabeth Anderson, chief government on the Digital Poverty Alliance, which has launched an inquiry into digital inclusion in healthcare, mentioned: “Digital innovation in healthcare holds big promise, however provided that inclusive by design.
“Whereas modernising the NHS App can enhance entry for a lot of, we are able to’t overlook the 19 million folks throughout the UK who nonetheless face boundaries to digital entry, whether or not by way of a scarcity of units, connectivity or digital expertise.
“With out focused help, these upgrades danger deepening present well being inequalities and putting additional pressure on offline providers. With more and more extra well being providers being moved on-line, it’s essential that we’ve the digital infrastructure to help this transformation.
“Any digital first technique should be backed by a complete plan to handle digital poverty, so nobody is left behind of their time of want.”
In response, a Division of Well being and Social Care spokesperson advised Digital Well being Information that it’s creating a Digital Inclusion Motion Plan which incorporates sustaining non-digital communication choices.
“Our digital transformation will modernise the NHS and make it match for the long run – however a digital NHS should be a power for inclusion.
“We’re working intently with affected person teams and group companions to co-develop and check the NHS App, we’ve appointed greater than 2,000 NHS App ambassadors throughout the nation and we’re partnering with over 1,400 libraries and group organisations – which supply free entry to one-to-one digital expertise help,” they mentioned.
