NHS trusts will be prohibited from purchasing fax machines starting January, with a complete phase-out expected by April 2020.
NHS organisations are mandated to adopt new technology, replacing obsolete systems. Their progress will be monitored quarterly until they confirm the elimination of fax machines. A freedom of information request in July revealed that over 8,000 fax machines are still in use within the NHS in England. From April, modern communication methods such as secure email will be required to enhance patient safety and cybersecurity.
Digital services and IT systems must adhere to a clear set of open standards, ensuring they can communicate across organisational boundaries and be continuously upgraded. Systems failing to meet these standards will be phased out and the government will terminate contracts with providers who do not comply with these principles. Richard Corbridge, Chief Digital and Information Officer at Leeds Teaching Hospital, stated, “Turning off the fax is a step in the delivery of integrated care and a leap forward in putting healthcare information in the right hands every time it is needed.” He acknowledged the significant challenge of removing all fax machines in a short timeframe but emphasised the necessity of moving away from outdated technology. “The ‘axe the fax’ campaign aims to empower staff rather than disarm them, and so far, the feedback has been positive. Staff recognise that while we are implementing highly innovative technology, we also need to eliminate technology that hasn’t existed in other industries for decades.”
Richard Kerr, Chair of the Royal College of Surgeons Commission on the Future of Surgery, commented, “Earlier this year, work undertaken for the RCS’s Commission on the Future of Surgery revealed that NHS hospital trusts own over 8,000 fax machines. This is absurd.” He highlighted the promising benefits of advances in artificial intelligence, genomics, and imaging for healthcare. As these technologies play a larger role in healthcare delivery, it is crucial to invest in better communication methods for the vast amount of patient information generated. Kerr said, “Most other organisations scrapped fax machines in the early 2000s, and it is high time the NHS caught up. The RCS supports the ban on fax machines that will take effect in March 2020.” He noted that since the publication of data on NHS fax machines, several trusts have pledged to eliminate them, demonstrating that modernising NHS communications is achievable with the right support.
The NHS’s move to abolish fax machines marks a significant step towards modernising healthcare communication, enhancing patient safety and cybersecurity.