The Science of Individuality and Healthcare Quality

Introduction

Long-term thinking is necessary for the health and social care systems because significant changes in the population, society, technology and other areas are likely to shape social and health care in the future.

As an illustration, economic growth and its distribution will shape future standards of living. National governments’ policies are one set of factors that will impact the economy and living standards in the future. However, being unemployed, in insecure work, or working in impoverished conditions contributes to poor health, as work and health are inextricably linked. In this context, the future of work is widely debated, and the implications for health are complex and uncertain as there is significant uncertainty around macroeconomic forecasts for earnings and employment (Lovell & Bibby, 2018).

Furthermore, much has been written about the likely impact of automation and particularly the potential for job displacement, but predictions for the future vary widely (Office for National Statistics, 2019).

On the flip side, there is also optimism about opportunities technology could bring. As some roles are replaced, others will be adapted and integrated with technology, and new ones will be created. As automation replaces routine tasks, people could be freed to undertake more rewarding work (Willis et al., 2019).

Nonetheless, there are limits to the tasks that technology can perform, especially where human intelligence and perception are still essential (Frey & Osborne, 2017). As a result, social skills, intelligence and perception, are likely to be of enduring value, and the caring roles and skills that depend on human interaction could become sought after.

How well industries and governments prepare the current workforce with the knowledge, skills and flexibility needed to adapt to new types of work will also influence the impact of new technologies. As work changes, it is likely that social attitudes and expectations of working will change too. Accordingly, alternatives to traditional employment models have been proposed as policy responses to promote people’s economic security and wellbeing within a shifting labor market.

The economic, societal and technological shifts are likely to alter the way that people connect, as well as their communities and broader institutions (Pantel et al., 2013; Holt-Lunstad et al., 2015; Laugesen, et al., 2018). Still, social networks are essential for our health. People who are socially isolated have a higher risk of early mortality, comparable with other well-established risk factors.

Furthermore, the older population, which is particularly vulnerable to isolation, is growing while young people grow up in a time when technology has fundamentally changed the way that people interact. In digital terms, people are more connected than ever, although it is now recognized that technology use also has the potential to harm young people’s psychological health.

On the other hand, the world population is ageing and growing, as the proportion of older people increases due to improved life expectancy, which is projected to continue to rise over the coming years. As people live longer, they are spending more years in poor health and are increasingly likely to live with multiple conditions. Moreover, the burden of disease is shaped by the prevalence of the major health risk factors, but it is hard to predict how the prevalence of health risk factors will change over time.

Additionally, recent analysis has suggested that over the next years, health spending will need to rise to maintain current service levels, while the picture is starker for social care (Evans, 2018).

Moreover, even with additional funding, the health and social care system risk not having enough staff to deliver services in the future as there are no simple solutions to the workforce challenge. Increasing the pipeline of professionals and creating the working cultures and conditions that encourage retention takes time and investment.