Unleashing Innovation in Healthcare: How Automation is Transforming Cancer Care in the NHS
As the healthcare system continues to face challenges, particularly in cancer services, it is becoming increasingly clear that technology and automation have the potential to revolutionise the way we deliver care. In this blog post, we will explore how e18 Innovation is working with NHS trusts to streamline cancer pathways through intelligent automation, ultimately improving patient outcomes and enhancing operational efficiency.
The Challenges Facing Cancer Services
Under enormous pressure due a combination of rising demand, the need to close the outcomes gap with Europe, and the changing needs of the cancer population, cancer services in the NHS are currently facing significant challenges in meeting targets.[1] The target that 85% of patients should start treatment within 62 days of an urgent cancer referral has not been hit since 2015, and the UK is not on track to hit its long-term goal to see 75% of cancers diagnosed at stages 1 or 2 by 2028.[2]
Failing to meet these targets has a considerable and direct impact on patient outcomes. Delays in diagnosis and treatment can lead to more advanced stages of cancer, reducing the chances of successful treatment and survival.
NHS England recognises these challenges and is providing funding and support for initiatives such as diagnostic centres, surgical hubs, and intelligent automation to address the issue.
The Power of Automation in Healthcare
Automation has the potential to complement and augment the human workforce by handling high-volume, repetitive, and rules-based tasks, allowing staff to focus on more complex and patient-facing work. The benefits of automation include:
-
24/7 operation
-
Increased speed and efficiency
-
Improved accuracy
-
Enhanced auditability
By leveraging automation, healthcare organisations can streamline processes, reduce administrative burdens, and ultimately improve patient care.
Case Study: Transforming Cancer Care in West Yorkshire
e18 Innovation has been working in partnership with 52 NHS organisations across 17 Integrated Care Systems (ICS), from acute trusts, to community & mental health providers, and primary care networks to help bring intelligent automation solutions to the UK healthcare system. One of the most compelling examples of e18 Innovation's impact is the transformative work they have done with the West Yorkshire Cancer Alliance and a group of Acute trusts. Cancer remains a significant healthcare challenge in West Yorkshire and Harrogate, with 250 people being diagnosed with cancer every week, and 115 individuals losing their lives to this condition. Despite some progress, cancer outcomes in disadvantaged communities continue to lag, exacerbated by the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Intelligent Automation is a game-changer in the realm of cancer care. It can be applied to various aspects of the cancer care pathway, including referral processing, screening, diagnosis, triage, and treatments. This technology seamlessly integrates with Electronic Patient Record systems and Cancer Registers, ensuring maximum productivity and timely information sharing. Intelligent Automation plays a pivotal role in helping the NHS meet crucial cancer care targets. It aids in reducing waiting times and ensuring compliance with referral to treatment (RTT) standards. By automating manual tasks, such as tracking patients through complex care pathways and managing data across various clinical systems, Intelligent Automation enhances clinical outcomes.
Lessons Learned from e18’s Successful Automation Implementation
Engaging Clinicians in Automation Adoption
One of the key lessons shared by Leeds Teaching Hospitals, another NHS trust that has successfully implemented automation, is the importance of engaging clinicians in the automation adoption process. By identifying their pain points and demonstrating how automation can help address these issues, healthcare organisations can gain the support of clinical staff. Sharing success stories and highlighting the benefits of automation can further encourage adoption.
Prioritising Automation Projects
When considering automation projects, healthcare organisations should prioritise initiatives based on factors such as:
-
Scalability
-
Benefits (time savings, improved safety, enhanced quality)
-
Alignment with organisational objectives
Establishing governance structures and engaging stakeholders throughout the process is crucial to ensure the success of automation projects.
Overcoming Challenges
Implementing automation in healthcare is not without its challenges. Some of the obstacles organisations may face include:
-
Articulating benefits in terms of both time savings and financial impact
-
Securing funding for automation projects
-
Managing the pipeline of automation ideas from across the organisation
To overcome these challenges, healthcare organisations can leverage resources like e18's automation community, which supports NHS organisations by sharing best practices, providing access to shared automation components, assisting with business cases and funding applications, and offering training to develop in-house capability.
Innovation as the Route to Improved Care Outcomes
As the NHS continues to face increasing demands and limited resources, embracing technology and automation is essential to ensure the sustainability and quality of healthcare services. By streamlining cancer pathways through automation, we can improve patient outcomes, reduce the burden on staff, and create a more efficient and effective healthcare system. e18 Innovation is committed to working with NHS trusts to harness the power of automation and drive positive change in cancer care delivery. Together, we can unleash innovation and build a brighter future for healthcare in the UK.
[1] warning-signs-challenges-to-delivering-the-cancer-strategy-for-england-by-2020 (macmillan.org.uk)
[2] Cancer services in England | Cancer Research UK
View all campaign week content
techUK – Unleashing UK Tech and Innovation
The UK is home to emerging technologies that have the power to revolutionise entire industries. From quantum to semiconductors; from gaming to the New Space Economy, they all have the unique opportunity to help prepare for what comes next.
techUK members lead the development of these technologies. Together we are working with Government and other stakeholders to address tech innovation priorities and build an innovation ecosystem that will benefit people, society, economy and the planet - and unleash the UK as a global leader in tech and innovation.
For more information, or to get in touch, please visit our Innovation Hub and click ‘contact us’.
Upcoming events:
A Black Lens: Exploring Representation In The Future of Extended Reality (XR)
London
Latest news and insights:
Get our tech and innovation insights straight to your inbox
Sign-up to get the latest updates and opportunities from our Technology and Innovation and AI programmes.
Learn more about our Unleashing Innovation campaign:
Sprint Campaigns
techUK's sprint campaigns explore how emerging and transformative technologies are developed, applied and commercialised across the UK's innovation ecosystem.
Activity includes workshops, roundtables, panel discussions, networking sessions, Summits, and flagship reports (setting out recommendations for Government and industry).
Each campaign runs for 4-6 months and features regular collaborations with programmes across techUK.
This campaign explored how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of space technologies and ultimately realise the benefits of the New Space Economy.
These technologies include AI, quantum, lasers, robotics & automation, advanced propulsion and materials, and semiconductors.
Activity has taken the form of roundtables, panel discussions, networking sessions, Summits, thought leadership pieces, policy recommendations, and a report.
Get in touch below to find out more about techUK's ongoing work in this area.
Event round-ups
Report
Insights
Get in touch
Rory Daniels
Rory Daniels
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, Rory leads techUK's emerging technologies activity across everything from immersive, web3, AI and robotics to space, gaming & metaverse.
This involves co-running techUK's flagship Innovation campaign, managing four series (including the 'Meet the Innovators' interview series), and launching 4-6-month 'sprint campaigns' on transformative technologies and sectors.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/
This campaign has explored how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of the technologies set to underpin the Gaming & Esports sector of the future.
These include AI, augmented / virtual / mixed / extended reality, haptics, cloud & edge computing, semiconductors, and advanced connectivity (5/6G).
Activity has taken the form of roundtables, panel discussions, networking sessions, Summits, and thought leadership pieces. A report featuring member case studies and policy recommendations is currently being produced (to be launched in September 2024).
Get in touch below to find out more about contributing to or collaborating on this campaign.
Report
Event round-ups
Insights
Get in touch
Rory Daniels
Rory Daniels
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, Rory leads techUK's emerging technologies activity across everything from immersive, web3, AI and robotics to space, gaming & metaverse.
This involves co-running techUK's flagship Innovation campaign, managing four series (including the 'Meet the Innovators' interview series), and launching 4-6-month 'sprint campaigns' on transformative technologies and sectors.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/
Running from July to December 2024, this campaign will explore how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of web3 and immersive technologies.
These include blockchain, smart contracts, digital assets, augmented / virtual / mixed / extended reality, spatial computing, haptics and holograms.
Activity will take the form of roundtables, workshops, panel discussions, networking sessions, tech demos, Summits, thought leadership pieces, policy recommendations, and reports.
Get in touch below to find out more about contributing to or collaborating on this campaign.
Upcoming events
Event round-ups
Guest insights
Get in touch
Rory Daniels
Rory Daniels
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, Rory leads techUK's emerging technologies activity across everything from immersive, web3, AI and robotics to space, gaming & metaverse.
This involves co-running techUK's flagship Innovation campaign, managing four series (including the 'Meet the Innovators' interview series), and launching 4-6-month 'sprint campaigns' on transformative technologies and sectors.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/
Campaign Weeks
Our annual Campaign Weeks enable techUK members to explore how the UK can lead on the development and application of emerging and transformative technologies.
Members do this by contributing blogs or vlogs, speaking at events, and highlighting examples of best practice within the UK's tech sector.
Summits
Tech and Innovation Summit 2023
Tech and Innovation Summit 2024
Rory Daniels
Rory Daniels
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, Rory leads techUK's emerging technologies activity across everything from immersive, web3, AI and robotics to space, gaming & metaverse.
This involves co-running techUK's flagship Innovation campaign, managing four series (including the 'Meet the Innovators' interview series), and launching 4-6-month 'sprint campaigns' on transformative technologies and sectors.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/
Laura Foster
Laura Foster
Laura is techUK’s Associate Director for Technology and Innovation.
She supports the application and expansion of emerging technologies, including Quantum Computing, High-Performance Computing, AR/VR/XR and Edge technologies, across the UK. As part of this, she works alongside techUK members and UK Government to champion long-term and sustainable innovation policy that will ensure the UK is a pioneer in science and technology
Before joining techUK, Laura worked internationally as a conference researcher and producer covering enterprise adoption of emerging technologies. This included being part of the strategic team at London Tech Week.
Laura has a degree in History (BA Hons) from Durham University, focussing on regional social history. Outside of work she loves reading, travelling and supporting rugby team St. Helens, where she is from.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- www.linkedin.com/in/lauraalicefoster
Authors
