Tomorrow’s hospital on today’s agenda:

Publish date: Oct 13, 2021

The hospital of tomorrow may look strikingly different to the type of healthcare environment we are used to, complete with new workflows, technologies and treatment standards—however, tomorrow’s hospital can’t exist if we don’t pave the way for it today.

There is much to say about the latest innovations in medical technology, but how is the structural integrity of the healthcare system itself going to accommodate this technology to usher in safer, more efficient patient care?

In the UK and Germany, public policy is shaping the way the future of healthcare will look in their countries, setting the foundation and encouraging others to follow suit.

United Kingdom: The hospital building programme

In October 2020, the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowed to build 48 new hospitals by 2030, allocating £3.7 billion to the project to transform the delivery of healthcare.1

This falls under the hospital building programme of the 2019 Health Infrastructure Plan (HIP), a 5-year investment programme in health infrastructure, committed to:2

• Building new hospitals
• Modernising primary care
• Improving mental health facilities
• Investing in new diagnostics and technology
• Addressing critical safety issues

Within this project exist major renovations to the way hospitals adapt to patients needs and the care that is delivered to them. There is a strong focus on research and development, namely in genomics, social care and public health infrastructure.2

As of March 2021, six building projects are currently under construction, one scheme is awaiting final approvals and the next eight projects will be brought forward in the coming months.3

UK Minister of State for Health Edward Argar described the HIP as “a long-term plan of investment over many years, allowing the NHS to plan for the future.”3

He also mentioned that later this year, a refreshed version of the HIP will be published to further outline the progress made and the path they will follow to 2030, including:3

• Detailed standards on the strategy for new hospitals and hospital upgrades
• The direction of travel in the primary care estate—how to get the most out of primary care hubs 
• Effective deployment of technology throughout the NHS
• Outlining the sustainability strategy

Though it is still in the early stages of development, said Argar, this new HIP will disclose more details on how the NHS is shaping the future of healthcare in the UK.

Germany: The Hospital Future Act (KHZG)

In Germany, similar steps have been taken to modernise the hospital and pave the way for the future.

In September 2020, German Health Minister Jens Spahn announced an allocation of €3 billion to hospitals as part of the Hospital Future Act (KHZG). This allocation is to be applied to modernisation projects within the hospital. Eligible projects include:4

• Automation/robotics
• Telemedicine
• Electronic care documentation and treatment services
• Digital medication management
• IT security measures
• Patient portals
• Other digital medicine projects

Applications to this funding are open until the end of 2021, and the assessment of digitalisation within German hospitals is set to continue through 2023.

This measure was preceded by the 2019 Digital Suppy Act (DVG), which was also introduced by Spahn, to popularise electronic health records, to reimburse digital health apps and to promote e-prescriptions and electronic medical letters.4

“We are sending a clear signal: Germany’s hospitals should remain strong,” said Spahn. “We are investing in their digital future.”4

What does this mean for the future of healthcare?

Using these new policies in the UK and Germany as pilots, other countries can learn from the innovations being made. The power of public policy to make structural changes extends beyond the reach of what one single hospital can do to make an over-arching difference in healthcare.

These kinds of changes are integral to accommodating the current and future challenges that will arise.

Though the full results are yet to be relished in either country, it’s certain that the hospital of tomorrow is coming sooner than we think.

Keep an eye out for more news as we follow the progress of these two projects!