One of the most significant impacts of the digital first strategy is the costs savings it can deliver. As technology makes it easier for patients to engage with the care process, health organisations are able to improve delivery while cutting costs. For example, allowing patients to contribute data to their records without having to see their GPs can reduce the number of GP appointments saving the practice time and money and improving the patient experience.

This was certainly the case in Bradford, where the Phoenix Medical Practice was able to deliver savings by trialling a new approach to patient consultations using VitruCare, an internet delivered ‘self-care' service provided by Dynamic Health Systems which utilises Microsoft Dynamics CRM and Microsoft Azure.