NHS must make greater use of information technology

The NHS has been slow to adopt technologies that would benefit patients and clinicians, says a report by the King’s Fund, a health think tank.

Technology in the NHS says that patients should be able to routinely use email and the internet to book appointments with their GP, receive routine test results, view medical records, and have online consultations. It also calls for more innovative use of technology, for example, videoconferencing for medical consultations and “virtual visiting” by friends and family.

Alasdair Liddell, coauthor of the report and senior associate at the King’s Fund, told the BMJ, “The NHS appears to be behind other sectors in terms of technology. Many of us now use the internet to bank, shop, and book …