NHS to spend £40 million on improving computer login times

The investment will enable more one-to-one patient care.

The government is set to spend £40 million on improving computer login times, one of the main technology frustrations facing NHS staff according to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

DHSC says the investment will ease the administrative burden on NHS staff, freeing up time for more one-to-one patient care.

Some NHS staff claim they have to log into as many as 15 different systems.

The investment will support projects similar to that seen at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool, which implemented single sign-on technology and reduced time spent logging into multiple computer systems from 1 minute 45 seconds to just 10 seconds.

With almost 5,000 logins a day, it saved over 130 hours of staff time and freed up their time to focus on patient care.

Less time fighting with computers.

Matthew Gould, Chief Executive of NHSX, said: “If you work in the NHS, the tech should not be getting in the way of your ability to do your job. Tech should be something you rarely think about because it just works.

“Today’s announcements mean we can start to tackle one of the biggest gripes staff have with their tech. It will allow staff across the NHS to spend more time with their patients and less time fighting their computers.”

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock added; “Too often, outdated technology slows down and frustrates staff, and prevents them from giving patients their full attention and the care they deserve.”

“It is frankly ridiculous how much time our doctors and nurses waste logging on to multiple systems.”