Richard recently attended an interactive drop-in on the Federated Data Platform (FDP), which is software that helps improve patient care by bringing together information currently stored in separate systems. This reduces the need for NHS staff to log in to multiple separate IT systems to access the information they need to treat patients, resulting in faster and more joined up care for patients, and less admin for doctors, nurses and other NHS staff.
Richard Fuller MP said:
Effectively connecting all the health information contained across the NHS can unlock huge potential savings from greater efficiencies but it is a gargantuan task. The hard work was started under the last Conservative government with the push for what is called a “Federated Data Platform” which is now being implemented by US firm, Palantir.
It was fascinating to hear about the potential for improvements but also about the pockets of internal resistance that can impede progress. I am a strong supporter of this work, but really want to see the Government hold NHS leadership to account for making sure their bureaucracy does not get in the way of progress.
Currently 108 NHS Trusts have signed up to the FDP, along with 41 Integrated Care Boards. Since its rollout, it has delivered almost 70,000 additional procedures in Theatres and safely removed 270,000 outdated or duplicated entries from the waiting list, ensuring those in greatest need for treatment are identified and prioritised. It is also helping to ensure people are discharged as soon as they are ready, reducing the longest unnecessary hospital stays by almost 19%, freeing up capacity for other patients.
At the drop-in, Richard was able to interact with live FDP data and speak to experts and NHS staff from Trusts who are already benefitting from the technology, to hear directly about how the FDP is having an effect on care outcomes across the UK.
You can find out more about the Federated Data Platform at https://www.england.nhs.uk/digitaltechnology/nhs-federated-data-platform/
