Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Rejected
Introduce comprehensive accreditation scheme for third-party healthcare apps with clear publicity
Recommendation
The Department and NHS England should work together to introduce a more comprehensive accreditation scheme for third-party healthcare apps, in addition to the current approach of recommending specific apps on some nhs.uk webpages. Within this scheme it should be easy for people to check whether a healthcare app that they are using or considering comes recommended by the NHS. This scheme should be supported by publicity and communications that both promote the benefits of digital healthcare and explain the risks of using unaccredited apps, providing a clear steer on why using an accredited product matters and where to find them. (Paragraph 84) 38 Digital transformation in the NHS
Government Response Summary
The government rejected the recommendation for a comprehensive third-party app accreditation scheme, stating the previous NHS Apps library was ineffective, and instead established DTAC standards for apps used in the NHS, planning a directory for these by late 2023/24.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
In 2021 NHSX, as part of NHS England closed the NHS Apps library and took a policy decision, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Social Care, that the assessment and accreditation of digital health technologies and health apps should be limited to those being recommended by and used in the NHS. An assessment of the strategy and cost effectiveness of the programme was undertaken and it was determined to be ineffective and poor value for public funds. The closure was based on a number of factors (namely relating to broad selection criteria, leading to an eclectic mix of apps that did not align to national clinical policy or strategy and were not prioritised by clinical unmet need). This approach was agreed with the then CEO of NHSX and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care at the time. It was identified that a baseline criterion was needed to support suppliers and commissioners to align on the baseline requirements for technologies ahead of adoption. The DTAC, Digital Technology Assessment Criteria, was established and sets the national NHS standard that all digital health technologies (not just apps) should meet and the MHRA regulates those which are medical devices. The assessment cost of an app as a result of DTAC is less than 5% of the then Library cost. These standards apply to digital health apps used in the NHS. The NHS should not support, recommend or fund digital health technologies that do not meet these standards. However, this in itself is not an accreditation scheme. A directory of products meeting DTAC standards is planned for late 2023/24. As referenced in the response to recommendation one, NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care are working towards surfacing a curated selection of digital therapeutics through the NHS App and other national digital channels. When the first therapeutics are available, there will be public-facing messaging to encourage the usage of the technologies via the NHS App.