Safety recommendation
It is recommended that NHSX considers how technology can assist in mitigating nosocomial transmission in the ward environment with regard to:
- the use of digital communication technologies in assisting with the deployment of staff and the dissemination and circulation of key information
- the increased use and availability of personal computing devices and electronic health record systems.
Response:
As the report highlights, there has been a dramatic shift towards the use of digital tools and systems to replace face-to-face communications in response to COVID-19.
NHSX has worked with its partner organisations to support staff and organisations to make this change - including the rapid, national roll out of Microsoft Teams and video consultation platforms.
NHSX has also established a procurement framework to make it easier for organisations to purchase the communication tools they need for clinical staff.
In light of your recommendations, NHSX will conduct further work to consider the role of communication tools in reducing transmission of infections in hospitals - including tools to support staff deployment, bed management and corporate communications.
Actions:
In recognition of the need to reduce face to face communication, NHSX has supported:
● ‘Attend Anywhere’; enabling virtual consultations.
● The procurement of Microsoft 365 licences for all NHS staff, mading a significant impact on direct clinical care.
● Promoting virtual meetings, chats and video calls has enabled remote working and Covid secure communication.
● Microsoft Teams has been used to deliver large teaching programs and mandatory training.
● We are also working with the front line to share examples of excellence and shared learning.
● An interim COVID-19 Digital Staff Passport to enable safe and rapid staff movements between NHS organisations.
● To support the upgrading of legacy systems we have also created a Clinical Communication Tools procurement framework which provides;
○ Financial support for local organisations to access their user needs and procure a product suitable for their locality.
○ Dependent on which tool is chosen, some can link with electronic health record systems, task management and clinical prioritisation.
● NHSX’s national programme of work is now prioritising support for the deployment of shared care record systems across local health and care systems, but with regional collaboration, which align better with the regional Nightingale locations as regional centres.
● NHSX is also Opening up safe and secure remote access to shared care record systems also means that HCPs forced to isolate can work remotely where they are able to access those systems.
Timeline: To complete by September 2021.
Response received on 25 January 2021.