Select Committee · Health and Social Care Committee

Digital transformation in the NHS

Status: Closed Opened: 13 May 2022 Closed: 6 Sep 2023 8 recommendations 7 conclusions 1 report

The Committee has launched a new inquiry focusing on digital transformation in the NHS. The inquiry will explore the current use of digital technology and examine how it needs to change in order to deliver an improvement in services and outcomes for patients. The inquiry will consider key aspects of NHS digital transformation such as …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Eighth Report - Digital transformation in the NHS HC 223 30 Jun 2023 15 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

5 items
2 Conclusion Eighth Report - Digital transformation … Deferred

Demonstrate continued value of the new NHS App to existing and potential users.

The pandemic provided a unique incentive to download the NHS App, because it hosted the Covid-19 pass. The new version of the App should bring benefits in terms of functionality, integration and personalisation, but it will require people to download it anew. The Department and NHS England announced improvements to …

Government response. The government's response focuses on interoperability across local systems and institutions, the publication of a draft strategy, and the availability of shared care records, rather than addressing how it will demonstrate the continued value of the NHS App to its …
Department of Health and Social Care
3 Recommendation Eighth Report - Digital transformation … Deferred

Publish timetable for new NHS App and comprehensive communication plan for its benefits.

We recommend that the Department and NHS England set out in response to this report: (a) A timetable for introducing the new, “native” NHS App, and (b) Their plan for communicating the benefits and features offered by the new App to users of the current “portal” version. (c) Further detail …

Government response. The government's response addresses initiatives to recruit and professionalise the Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) workforce through graduate schemes, apprenticeships, and defining job roles, but does not provide the requested timetable or communication plans for the NHS App.
Department of Health and Social Care
6 Recommendation Eighth Report - Digital transformation … Deferred

Implement DDaT Pay Framework for NHS England specialists to improve recruitment and retention.

To ensure that the NHS is able to recruit the best candidates and sustainably meet demand for DDaT specialists, now and in the future, we recommend that the Department apply to implement the DDaT Pay Framework for NHS England DDaT specialists, which would allow additional pay measures including bonuses/”capability based …

Government response. The government's response details various past and ongoing programs aimed at supporting patients, carers, and health service staff with digital skills and promoting NHS App awareness, rather than addressing the recommendation to implement a DDaT Pay Framework for specialists to …
Department of Health and Social Care
7 Recommendation Eighth Report - Digital transformation … Deferred

Integrate digital training throughout all wider NHS professional learning programmes for staff.

Investment in the NHS’s specialist digital workforce needs to be matched by investment in the wider workforce’s forces digital skills. It is important that digital is understood as a thread that runs throughout healthcare, not as a specialist skill set that is only relevant to some staff and occupations. We …

Government response. The government discusses general digital exclusion and past initiatives like the Widening Digital Participation programme. It states it will continue to investigate and learn from existing models without committing to integrating digital training into NHS professional training programmes for the …
Department of Health and Social Care
8 Conclusion Eighth Report - Digital transformation … Deferred

Ensure staff have dedicated time for co-designing new NHS digital initiatives effectively.

Without staff engagement in the entire process of introducing digital initiatives, digital transformation risks being perceived as an unwelcome, time-consuming imposition on an already over-stretched workforce. Co-designing digital initiatives with staff—including, but not limited to clinicians—is essential to ensure that these offer workable improvements to existing practices. The Department and …

Government response. The government's response focuses on surfacing digital therapeutics via the NHS App and public messaging to encourage their use, completely failing to address the recommendation regarding ensuring staff have time and headspace for co-designing digital initiatives.
Department of Health and Social Care

Oral evidence sessions

3 sessions
Date Witnesses
14 Mar 2023 Dr Tim Ferris · NHS England, Kathy Hall · Department of Health and Social Care, The Lord Markham CBE · Department of Health and Social Care View ↗
11 Jan 2023 Chris Askew · Diabetes UK, David Ramsden · Cystic Fibrosis Trust, Dr Tim Ferris · NHS England, Jackie Gray · NHS Digital, Kathy Hall · Department of Health and Social Care, Liz Ashall-Payne · ORCHA, Simon Bolton · NHS Digital View ↗
15 Nov 2022 Dr Paul Atkinson · Royal College of General Practitioners, John Dean · Royal College of Physicians, Karen Payne · NHS Dorset, Pritesh Mistry · The King's Fund View ↗