Innovative solutions for the healthcare sector

Hospital Innovations will descend upon London’s Olympia on 26-27 April, bringing together key decision makers in hospital management teams who are collectively responsible for the delivery of patient services in the UK.

Hospital Innovations focuses on four key areas; Innovation, Technology, Finance & Facilities and will address a number of the key issues involved with sessions looking at Telehealth and Smart use of Space.

Taking place in London at the Olympia Conference Centre on 26-27 April, the event will offer two days devoted to tackling the key objectives facing the healthcare sector over the coming five to ten years.

Technology
A whopping £4 billion will be spent on improving the use of technology within the NHS over the next five years, it has been revealed.

The cash will help to realise the government’s vision of a paperless NHS, improving the speed of diagnoses and enhancing services across the country.

There is no doubt that technology can play a significant role in meeting these objectives, but new technology innovations are placing existing NHS infrastructure under pressure, both in terms of IT systems and people.

Expected to be announced shortly by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, the cash will be spent on introducing systems that enable patients to book services and order prescriptions online, access apps and digital tools, and choose to speak to their doctor online or via a video link.

Full details of the funding are still being agreed between the Department of Health and NHS England, but are expected to include: £1.8 billion to create a paper-free NHS and remove outdated technology like fax machines; £1 billion on cyber security and data consent; £750m to transform out-of-hospital care, medicines and digitise social care and emergency care; and about £400m to build a new website –
nhs.uk – develop apps and provide free Wi-Fi.

Speaking to the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, Hunt said: “We know that proper investment in IT – it’s not without its pitfalls – can save time for doctors and nurses and means they can spend more time with patients.”

As part of its digital drive, the government wants at least 10 per cent of patients to use computers, tablets or smartphones to access GP services by March 2017.At the end of last year, Hunt said free Wi-Fi would also be provided in all NHS buildings in England, but a deadline has still not been set.

Faciliting Improvement
Steve Webb, director of the event, commented: “Hospital Innovations is being shaped with the backing of a number of leading NHS trusts and key suppliers who have a vested interest in developing their trusts and improving technologies to make them more efficient.

“Providing an event in London that will address their needs, sit and listen to their concerns, understand what exciting and innovative things they are currently doing and what could help provide solutions; the result, we hope, is an event that matches their needs and will provide answers on improving governance, efficiency and productivity while not compromising patient safety.”

At the heart of the event will be an event programme focussed on Procurement, Finance, Technology and Facilities with a unique look at the NHS and how it could look in 10 to 15 years’ time.

Hospital Innovations will offer visitors and delegates the chance to hear from and interact with leading trusts in the UK. Additionally our supporting organisations and sponsors will showcase new technologies and solutions.

Key suppliers
Jennie Horrocks said: “Static Systems is pleased to be supporting Hospital Innovations. We see the event as an excellent opportunity to meet with key decision makers to discuss patient services at the bedside and how we, as a manufacturer, can further develop our products to meet with the ever-changing demands of the healthcare environment.”

While Richard Koszykowski, development director from Power Efficiency commented: “We have been working with our sister company Cofely to help identify key cost areas where significant savings can be achieved. In combination with several trusts Power Efficiency has been able to identify energy procurement strategies that can deliver significant cost savings through use of more effective energy trading strategies. Combined with Cofely, who are energy management specialists the combined energy savings over a three year contract are typically over £1 million”.

Visitors to the event will be able to talk to companies like Power Efficiency to see how they can help them with deliver similar costs savings through a series of workshops and presentations.

Addressing Trusts’ Needs
NHS trusts supporting the event include: Barts Health NHS Trust, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, Essentia Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust and Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust. Each of these will work with the organisers to deliver an event that addresses their needs while sharing best practice with other trusts who attend the event.

The conference is ‘free’ to attend for our first 200 NHS and private hospital personnel. Teams from NHS trusts will be able to attend individual workshops, CPD sessions and half day conference presentations while those that want to make the most of the event and book for both days can, completely free. Information on how to register and qualifying free places can be found on the Hospital Innovations website.

Further Information
www.hospital-innovations.com