Imagine a future where all your medical needs are just a click away. The NHS app is set to revolutionize the way patients interact with the healthcare system. Not only will it allow you to make appointments easily, but it will also keep you updated on vaccine campaigns, health tests, cancer screenings, and even upcoming clinical trials. Labour MP Wes Streeting envisions a world where clinical trials can recruit volunteers effortlessly through the app, streamlining the process and ultimately benefiting patient care.
At the heart of Labour’s plan is patient data. Streeting emphasizes the importance of using general practice data to improve population health outcomes. The NHS has a wealth of data at its disposal, but it needs to be put to good use. A Labour government would prioritize transparency and data security, ensuring that patient confidentiality is always protected.
Streeting is ready to face opposition head-on, particularly from those concerned about privacy issues. He believes that the benefits of sharing data with the NHS far outweigh the risks. Drawing on his experience at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, where he witnessed firsthand the frustrations caused by disjointed medical records, Streeting is determined to push for a more connected healthcare system that puts patients first.
This article appears in the July/August 2024 issue of WIRED UK magazine.