D I G I T A L D I A G N O S T I C S
The Department of Health and Social Care ( DHSC ), the ministerial department responsible for national health policy and the NHS , has injected over £ 5 million in remote working devices to enhance accessible health and social care in underprivileged areas throughout the UK .
The data was retrieved under the Freedom of Information Act ( FOI ), and analysed by the Parliament Street think tank , observing the spending of the Department of Health over the past three financial years .
In total , DHSC spent £ 5,119,717 on 7,246 laptops , tablets and mobile phones for staff and regional practices across the UK .
Laptops accounted for 70 % of the expenditure , with over £ 3.5 million poured into 4,312 devices . Mobile phones also took up a sizable portion of the spending , making up 28 % of the budget on 2,806 devices , while tablets were far less common , accounting for 2 % and 128 devices .
While technology should be encouraged for its potential to revolutionise healthcare , it comes with challenges that must be addressed .
Cybersecurity is crucial in vulnerable areas to protect sensitive health data and ensure the integrity of healthcare services . With the DHSC ’ s investment in remote devices , safeguarding against cyber threats is essential to prevent data breaches that could compromise patient information . Effective cyberdefence measures ensure that healthcare professionals can securely access and share critical data , maintaining trust and reliability in healthcare delivery . This protection is vital for enhancing health outcomes and supporting underprivileged communities effectively .
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH INJECTS OVER £ 5 MILLION IN REMOTE DEVICES TO BOOST ACCESSIBLE HEALTHCARE IN UNDERPRIVILEGED AREAS
www . intelligenthealth . tech 63