University Hospital Southampton adopts innovative digital system to identify cost savings

University Hospital Southampton (UHS) is the first NHS hospital trust to adopt an innovative new digital system to identify cost-saving opportunities.

All NHS trusts develop annual cost improvement programmes (CIPs) which use data to help departments identify ways to improving services while also becoming more efficient.

Known as Infinity for CIP, developed by Infinity Health, the tool enables finance and improvement teams to track scheme data in real-time, remotely, on one platform.

Previously this data, including calculations and reports, was all entered manually in spreadsheets which took greater time to update and was susceptible to error.

It also did not provide an accessible overview or take into consideration the complexity of programmes, multiple user access requirements, reporting needs or the management and assigning of tasks.

Using the system, organisations have a higher chance of rapidly spotting efficiencies that could deliver cost savings.

UHS is recognised as an IT and digital healthcare leader within the NHS and the informatics team - UHS Digital - has overseen the development of a wide range of pioneering projects.

It is one of 16 centres of excellence, known as Global Digital Exemplars, selected by the Department of Health and Social Care to develop and share digital innovations.

Dan Jeffery, cost improvement programme lead at UHS, said: “We have partnered with Infinity Health to make our cost improvement programme more efficient and help us make quicker, data-driven decisions.

“We want to improve the visibility of data across our team and make it easier to plan, manage and report on schemes.

“We're looking forward to being able to access all scheme data on one platform, in real-time, allowing us to collaborate and deliver our sustainable programmes.”

Elliott Engers, chief executive of Infinity Health, said: “CIP teams in NHS trusts are working harder than ever to save money and improve levels of productivity, with government efficiency targets double that of previous years.

“Infinity can help trusts like Southampton to track their schemes and take action, easily and quickly.

“We need to replace spreadsheets with modern solutions that are designed to coordinate the activity that drives improvement programmes.”