The 嫩草影院 submitted evidence to the House of聽Lords鈥疌OVID-19 select committee inquiry聽Living online: the long-term impact on wellbeing.
focused聽on the impact聽that the聽increasing use of digital technology has on the delivery of healthcare and the doctor/patient聽relationship.聽
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated an already growing trend for using digital technology in providing healthcare services.聽In our 2018 report聽Outpatients: the future, adding value through sustainability,聽we called for an overhaul of outpatient care and greater use of digital technology.聽
While digital technologies bring many benefits for patients and clinicians alike, maximising these benefits must not exacerbate health inequalities.聽聽
We recommended in our evidence that聽
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Services must be co-designed with patients,聽carers聽and clinicians.聽
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There must be investment in a聽digitally-enabled聽health and social care workforce, and action from government to reduce digital inequalities.聽聽聽聽
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Government has an important role to play in supporting people to develop digital skills, so they do not miss out on the benefits digital healthcare can offer.聽It is聽often older people who have the most to gain from accessing these聽services,聽but聽will most struggle to access them due to lower digital skills.聽