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Change NHS: What a new 10 year plan means for the healthcare sector

In October 2024, Change NHS was launched to give everyone the chance to shape the 10-Year Health Plan. From NHS staff, to patients and organisations in the sector, the programme is open to anybody to contribute. In addition, plans are forming to create a single patient record accessible via the NHS App. This blog by Ruby Kuzemko explores how secure network connectivity will underpin NHS transformation, and the broader impact it could have on the healthcare landscape.

A pivotal moment for the NHS

The NHS’s announcement of plans to give patients full access to their medical records via the NHS App is a bold step in the government’s vision for a more integrated, patient-centric health service. This "digital revolution" aims to shift the NHS from an analogue to a digital-first system, with the introduction of a single, unified patient record that is accessible to both patients and healthcare professionals. The implications of this change could be transformative across the entire healthcare ecosystem, including GPs, private hospitals, specialists, Healthtech companies, and patients themselves.

At its core, the success of this initiative depends on robust, secure, and resilient networking infrastructure to protect sensitive patient data and ensure reliable access across the healthcare system. This blog explores how secure network connectivity will underpin this transformation and the broader impact it could have on the healthcare landscape.

A Single Source of Truth: Benefits for GPs, Private Hospitals, and Specialists

For decades, healthcare providers have operated in silos, with patient data fragmented across different systems held by GPs, hospitals, and specialists. This has often resulted in communication breakdowns, duplicated pathways and unnecessary delays in the delivery of patient care. The creation of a single, unified patient record will eliminate many of these inefficiencies by enabling healthcare providers to access up-to-date information in real-time, regardless of where the patient is treated, and by who.

For GPs, private hospitals, and specialists, this development promises several key benefits:

  • Improved Continuity of Care: With access to the same comprehensive patient record, all providers involved in a patient’s care will have full visibility of their medical history, test results, and treatments. This should result in more coordinated, informed decision-making, enhancing the quality of care.

  • Reduced Administrative Burden: By digitising records and making them available across healthcare settings, administrative tasks such as requesting medical records or repeating tests will be drastically improved. This will free up healthcare professionals to focus fully on patient care rather than paperwork.

  • Enhanced Diagnostics and Treatment: Specialists and consultants will be able to access full patient histories at the touch of a button, allowing for quicker and more accurate diagnoses. This, in turn, will help streamline treatment pathways and reduce waiting times.

The Role of Healthtech: Innovation Driven by Data

The availability of a unified patient record opens new doors for Healthtech companies, which can leverage this data to develop more innovative solutions. Healthtech platforms could use real-time data from these records to build AI-driven decision support tools, personalised medicine algorithms, and predictive analytics that enhance patient outcomes.

However, with increased data accessibility comes greater responsibility. Healthtech companies must comply with stringent data protection regulations, such as GDPR, and ensure that their platforms integrate with the NHS's secure infrastructure. This is where robust networking and cybersecurity become essential.

At Cloud Gateway, we understand the critical role secure network connectivity plays in ensuring that Healthtech platforms can safely and reliably interact with the NHS systems. Data must flow seamlessly between organisations, but it must also be protected from cyberattacks.

Cybersecurity: The Pillar of Trust

In recent years, cyberattacks on healthcare providers, including high-profile breaches within the NHS, have raised significant concerns around the security of patient data. The sensitivity of medical information makes healthcare a prime target for cybercriminals. As the NHS moves towards a single patient record system, the stakes have never been higher in terms of protecting this data from breaches, ransomware, and unauthorised access.

Network security will be the foundation upon which this new digital healthcare infrastructure is built. At Cloud Gateway, we prioritise:

  • Zero Trust Architectures: This approach ensures that every attempt to access the network or data is verified and authenticated, regardless of whether it originates from inside or outside the organisation. This minimises the risk of internal threats and ensures that even privileged users are continuously monitored.

  • Data Encryption: All patient data transferred across the network should be encrypted both in transit and at rest, ensuring that even if intercepted, the information is unusable to malicious actors.

  • Resilience Against DDoS Attacks: Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, which aim to overwhelm a network with traffic and bring services to a halt, can have devastating effects on healthcare providers. We work with healthcare organisations to ensure their networks have the resilience to withstand such attacks without compromising access to critical patient records.

With these measures in place, healthcare providers can ensure the security and privacy of patient data, which will be crucial in maintaining public trust as the NHS transitions to a digital-first ecosystem.

Patient Empowerment and the Future of Healthcare

For patients, the ability to access their full medical records, including test results and letters from doctors, through the NHS App represents a significant shift in the doctor-patient dynamic. This transparency will empower patients to take more control over their health, enabling them to:

  • Track Their Progress: Patients will be able to monitor their treatment and recovery, access test results in real-time, and better understand their conditions.

  • Reduce Unnecessary Appointments: With access to their records, patients can potentially resolve minor concerns without needing to visit their GP or hospital, thereby reducing strain on the healthcare system.

  • Be More Informed Partners in Care: Empowered with information, patients can ask more informed questions and make decisions about their care in partnership with their healthcare providers.

Secure Connectivity as a Foundation for Success

The NHS’s move towards a unified patient record is a significant step forward for healthcare in England. It promises to improve the efficiency of care delivery, reduce administrative burdens, and empower patients to take control of their health. However, the success of this initiative hinges on secure, resilient network infrastructure that protects patient data while enabling seamless access across the public and private healthcare sector.

As a tech-enabled MSP, Cloud Gateway is committed to providing the secure network connectivity solutions that healthcare providers, healthtech companies, and the NHS need to thrive in this new digital landscape. By prioritising cybersecurity and ensuring robust, resilient networks, we can help drive the future of digital healthcare forward—safeguarding both the technology and the patients it serves.

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