Opinion Article by Mark Venables, Co-Founder, Highland Marketing.
The thing with crises is that they're sudden, unexpected, and not under your control. You think it'll never happen to you, then you're part of the news cycle - and not in a good way.

In our sector, problems are pretty much inevitable. Think about it. Healthcare technology is tricky stuff.

Opinion Article by Derrick Measham, Head of Research and Development, Cloud Telephony Specialist X-on.
It's no secret that GP practices are under enormous pressure, or that this is undermining public confidence in primary care.

The problem was spelled out in Dr Claire Fuller's 'Stocktake' for NHS England in May, which reported that "there are real signs of genuine and growing discontent with primary care - both from the public who use it and from the professionals who work within it."

Opinion Article by Vivek Krishnan, CTO, Alcidion Group.
The future of healthcare systems lies in open standards that free data from traditional, stand-alone silos and make it available to the many applications that need it. But how are we going to reach that future?

Realistically, we have two options: open Electronic Health Record, better known as openEHR and Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources, or FHIR.

Opinion Article by Paul Bensley, Managing Director of Primary Care Cloud Telephony Specialist X-on.
It is good to see the publication of this strategy [A plan for digital health and social care], which confirms the direction of travel set before the COVID-19, while seeking to build on the rapid adoption of technology that we saw during the pandemic.

It's particularly good to see the strategy's focus on using technology to support primary care and what it calls 'urgent and emergency care' - the services that help patients with an immediate care need that might range from a call to NHS 111 to a trip to the local pharmacy to a visit to A&E.

Opinion Article by Gary Birks, Gary Birks, General Manager, UK and Ireland, Orion Health.
The latest strategy for health and care IT looks to build on what has been achieved over the past two decades, while making sure that all trusts, integrated care systems, and social care departments are levelling-up and have the right foundations to deliver a 'digital revolution'.

Opinion Article by Janez Bensa, Chief Executive of Parsek.
The NHS was working to develop a new model of outpatient care before COVID-19, but this work has been given a new impetus by the pandemic and the need to tackle record waiting lists as safely and efficiently as possible, while keeping patients reassured and engaged.

Opinion Article by Matt O'Donovan, CEO, WiFi SPARK.
Over the past two decades, the NHS has made a big investment in entertainment and communications systems, internet access and WiFi infrastructure.

The first wave came with the installation of bedside terminals that enabled patients to call their loved ones and to watch television without having to wait for a corridor payphone or the ward TV.