Online consultations, implants and apps that monitor long-term conditions and robot surgeons – it already feels like we’re living in the future. 

As the decade draws to a close, what will healthcare look like in 2030? 

The NHS long-term plan says virtually every aspect of modern life has been reshaped by innovation and technology, and healthcare is no exception.

It says: “Technology is continually opening up new possibilities for prevention, care and treatment. 

“Premature babies who would have died 10 years ago live long and healthy lives; people who would have been house-bound in pain now walk thanks to new drugs; and genomic testing is increasingly available to help diagnosis and treatment.” 

Matthew Nye, the head of digital transformation at the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire clinical commissioning group, said: “I’ve been in the NHS since 2009. Although we had computers, patient records weren’t shared – you’d phone the practice at 8am and if it was engaged you had to ring back again. 

“If you went into hospital, they wouldn’t know what medication you were on. All that information was on paper at your GP surgery.”

Nowadays, patient records are digitised and can be accessed at the tap of a screen. With smartphones claiming so much of our attention, the NHS has launched its own app as a way for patients to connect to their practice 24 hours a day. 

They can use it to check symptoms, book appointments, order repeat prescriptions and securely view their medical records. 

Matt said: “We’ve been piloting e-consultations. You answer some questions and a GP or nurse will look at your responses and decide how best to act.

“We’re arranging resources based on clinical need rather than first come, first served.”

One system being trialled in Weston-super-Mare and Worle has cut waiting times from one week down to a single day. 

E-consultations are being rolled out across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire in 2020, and could soon be in A&E departments to reduce pressure on urgent care. 

A CCG spokesman said: “This [pilot] project has laid the foundations for a new way of working, with practices committed to working together to manage a whole population’s health.” 

The next evolution of that will be video consultations that let patients speak to health professionals from the comfort of their own home. 

And as technology develops, facial recognition and artificial intelligence could help diagnose conditions patients do not even know they have. 

The “internet of things” and devices like Amazon’s Alexa will be used more and more so patients can monitor their own health. 

Matthew said the technology could update carers if a patient’s health deteriorates, adding: “It’s not Big Brother – it’s small changes so you can get help much faster. 

“We can use data to understand the needs of the local population.”

The NHS has been targeted by hackers and giving away all that data will inevitably spark security concerns for some people. 

“People can opt out. It’s about explaining the benefits of why we’re putting in sensors or asking them to do blood tests. 

“It’s always going to be a supplement to the human care that’s at the heart of the NHS. 

“It will never replace that.” 

Famed for its robot porters which deliver meals to patients, Southmead Hospital has had a robot surgeon since 2009. Last year it bought a £750,000 pioneering replacement to treat men with prostate cancer. 

Robotic surgery is more accurate, less invasive, causes less blood loss, and reduces the length of stay in hospital. 

In the next decade, Matthew said robots will be helping out with surgery and artificial intelligence will be used to analyse scans that need close scrutiny. 

One bit of tech Matthew said could arrive in the next five years is robots that can cook people food when they get out of hospital, meaning they can get home sooner. 

“You can never replace human touch but it will help people remain independent,” he said.