The NHS is in crisis and struggling to deliver the level of service UK citizens expect and need. As pressure on the national healthcare infrastructure grows, intensified by the two-year pandemic and consequent backlog of referrals, it’s becoming increasingly clear that digital healthcare must become part of the solution. As we discuss the future of the NHS and start to plan for this, considering the voices and views of young people who will inherit this system are paramount. By seriously taking these into account, there is an opportunity to earn the support of this generation for longer-term strategies.
Generation Z is a generation of digital natives who grew up in the information age. Consequently, they are ready and willing to embrace new technologies. This generation wants governments to make digital-first investments, and they are willing to accept short-term economic hits for a more equal and resilient future. In a recent study by Dell Technologies investigating Gen Z’s attitudes to, and expectations of, key societal issues, the data highlights where they want to see a change in the healthcare system.
So, what does this mean for the healthcare industry, according to Gen Zs?
In the UK, the biggest healthcare concerns for Gen Zs are long waiting times for appointments and treatments (16%), compared with being able to see a doctor face-to-face being the lowest priority (6%). Long waiting lists already impact Gen Z, with 38% citing this as a reason for not making doctors’ appointments. Closely behind are long phone queues (24%) and the inability to book appointments online. Future generations are crying out for change.
As data has the potential power to transform clinical care, from diagnosis to disease prevention, the healthcare industry must adopt a ‘data-first’ mindset. But to get there, the healthcare industry needs the assistance and funding to ramp up their adoption of new innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and automation. These future-looking technologies could dramatically impact the speed at which data is collected, analysed, and processed, ultimately leading to better care. We’ve already seen a step in the right direction with Hunt’s recently announced ‘AI Sandbox‘, which will set up coordinated AI’ regulatory sandboxes’ to allow businesses to explore and experiment with new innovative products under a regulator’s supervision. Moves like this will help AI businesses get cutting-edge products to market quicker, so it’s a welcome step in the right direction.
Data privacy concerns
The growth in the volume of data brings with it its own challenges. Privacy concerns are increasing, and healthcare environments struggle to secure information and meet the regulatory and compliance requirements imposed upon it, a view further highlighted in Dell Technologies’ ‘Future-Proof’ study. Despite the research results noting that the UK’s top spending priority for young people is the NHS, the results also displayed a lack of confidence in the NHS being able to handle sensitive data. Over half of the respondents (54%) had little confidence in the ability of healthcare providers to store personal data compliantly. As the government looks to implement better data-sharing techniques to enhance healthcare, this statistic is of serious concern.
As data volumes grow and new regulatory requirements come into play, IT efficiency and innovation become critical. The key is to connect IT and business transformation with a more modernised infrastructure that makes it simpler, more reliable, and more secure to turn data into value for patients, providers, researchers and healthcare systems.
Building for the patients of tomorrow
The NHS is our nation’s backbone, responsible for our health and care, a huge employer, and an essential part of the economy. It must be at the core of the digital revolution to ensure it can continue to thrive. Like other technology vendors, we have the technology to facilitate this, and by forming strong partnerships with the NHS, we can use it to drive the human progress to match it.
Across the UK, people are undecided about what the future of the NHS will look like, but all agree technology will play a key part – now is the time to invest wisely to deliver for the patients of tomorrow. Interestingly data reveals that the acceptance of investing today for a digital tomorrow increases to 47% amongst those likely to vote, making it a vote winner as the UK looks to drive our future-facing economy.
The main takeaway from the research conducted by Dell Technologies is that Gen Zs are actively identifying the areas of healthcare where they want to see change, with a clear vision of the role that they will play in making that change. And as technology’s role in healthcare settings continues to grow, it’s essential to consider where to prioritise investment to enable these new innovative solutions to deliver efficiencies, transform patient care and build on the partnerships that drive it.
By Scott Andrew, Healthcare Industry Director, Dell Technologies UK