The report on the introduction of mobile devices at 11 NHS pilot sites sets out the benefits of mobile technology for health staff and patients.

The aims of the project were to understand the requirements of mobile working, and to demonstrate that increased productivity and efficiency can be achieved by making changes to working processes.

The report details the significant increases in productivity that can be achieved. One outcome was a 142 per cent increase in contact activity. There were also significant increases in time spent with patients following deployment of mobile devices. In some cases this was up to 104 per cent.

The report also shows that journeys can be reduced, even where clinical activity is increased and time spent travelling can be reduced by up to 33 per cent.

Wider benefits include a 50 per cent reduction in no access, a saving of 34 per cent in referrals and a 91 per cent saving in admissions.

Whilst there are some clear financial benefits associated with the adoption of mobile working, it is stressed that just as the solutions are not ‘one size fits all’, neither are the benefits. Financial savings will vary greatly across different services and different organisations.

Examples of savings per clinician include £ 978 from no access visits, £ 1,031 savings from avoidance of unnecessary referrals and £ 16,707 from avoidance of unnecessary admissions.

National Mobile Health Worker Project Report can be downloaded here.