Applying a more holistic or ‘joined-up’ systems approach to health and social care provision could help transform the way these essential services are delivered and address the needs of a changing patient population, according to a joint report published by the Royal Academy of Engineering (www.raeng.org.uk), the Academy of Medical Sciences (www.acmedsci.ac.uk), and the Royal College of Physicians (www.rcplondon.ac.uk).

The framework proposed in the report Engineering better care, outlines how a systematic engineering approach could be applied to health and social care, with the potential for transformative effects.

Co-produced by engineers, clinicians, and health and care leaders, it is designed to develop systems that better meet the needs of patients, carers and NHS staff.

The thinking behind the report is exemplified by an earlier project where a team of pharmacists, clinicians, patients, engineers, pharmaceutical suppliers and manufacturers used a systems approach to develop safer ways to administer methotrexate for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

This approach successfully assessed the needs of patients, carers, manufacturers, and staff across the NHS system, using the principles outlined in this report.

Professor John Clarkson (FREng), who chaired the joint working group that produced the report, says: “Making systems that work relies on asking questions to understand the context of the challenge, designing a competent system, putting this system into practice and sustaining its utility and use.

“The questions presented in this report are the result of years of research and practice of a systems approach and provide a unique insight into the essence of what it is to engineer.”