The Forgotten Patients: Is the digital NHS leaving people behind?

This special report from Digital Health Unplugged explores whether the NHS’s shift to digital is improving access to healthcare or creating new barriers.

The government’s 10 year health plan sets out a move towards a ‘digital by default’ service, with the NHS App as the system’s ‘front door’ and an ‘online hospital’ planned to help reduce elective wait lists.

Proponents argue this transformation will expand access and free up capacity for those who need it most, but is that promise being realised in practice or does it risk becoming a barrier for the most vulnerable members of society?

You can read the full transcript of this episode here.

Music and sound design:

• Matt Hill Audio

Guests:

• Rosemary Hill, patient
• Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK
• Pritesh Mistry, fellow in digital technologies  at The King’s Fund
• Lee Rickles, chief information officer at Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust
• Elizabeth Anderson, chief executive at Digital Poverty Alliance
• Owen Chinembiri, assistant director – workforce, at the NHS Race and Health Observatory
• Rachel Power – chief executive at The Patients Association
• Katie Heard, head of research and data insight at Good Things Foundation
• Thomas Porteus, chair of Out Together
• Deborah Rozansky, director of policy, research and innovation at the Social Care Institute for Excellence