NHS Should 'Look To Lastminute.com'

Trade body Intellect has urged the NHS to learn from the private sector when it comes to building a new digital architecture to meet the ‘paperless’ challenge.

In a report published today, called ‘The NHS Information Evolution’, Intellect argues there are many systems that the NHS could look to adopt.

“Digitising straightforward transactions such as booking appointments, viewing test results and ordering prescriptions is more difficult than necessary,” it says. “Innovative solutions such as the ones we enjoy in our social life still remain some distance away.”

Yet, it asks: “Wouldn’t it be good if we could get a lastminute.com style of appointment service to fill the spare capacity across the NHS, use an Amazon-like service to have care packages delivered anywhere they are required, treat Choose and Book referrals the same way as hotels.com?”