Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Eighth Report - Digital transformation in the NHS
Health and Social Care Committee
HC 223
Published 30 June 2023
Recommendations
4
Accepted
Standards framework essential for improving NHS interoperability and health data sharing across systems.
Recommendation
We support the Hewitt review’s recommendation that the Department, NHS England and ICSs should work together to develop a standards framework to be adopted by all ICSs. This should improve interoperability and data sharing within and between systems. This should …
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Government Response Summary
The government has published a draft strategy for information sharing standards and interoperability, with final publication expected in Winter 2023. It also commits to providing targeted funding and support, including a further £100 million over the next two years, to help NHS trusts digitise and implement standards.
Department of Health and Social Care
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11
Accepted
Ensure continued availability of non-digital channels for patient access to services
Recommendation
Many patients could benefit from encouragement and support to use digital services that might not initially be their first choice, but there will be some patients who continue to prefer physical channels. The Department and NHS England must ensure that …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that patients unable to use digital channels can already continue to access services via telephone and traditional face-to-face services, and describes past and ongoing programmes to support digital skills.
Department of Health and Social Care
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Conclusions (2)
1
Conclusion
Accepted
Successive Governments have attempted digital transformation of the NHS. Progress has been slow and uneven, and there is now substantial variation between organisations. This attempt has the potential to be different, with clear intentions and funding to address factors that have frustrated progress in the past. These include the preponderance …
Government Response Summary
The government asserts it has a coherent policy and a suite of planned NHS App features that will be refined based on user research and usage data. It highlights ongoing user engagement via a 40,000-member panel and various promotional activities for new features.
9
Conclusion
Accepted
There is a digital skills gap in social care that, if unaddressed, will hinder the digital transformation of the health and social care sectors. As with training for staff in the health service, it is vital that digital skills are integrated throughout learning and development for social care staff, rather …
Government Response Summary
The government outlines a comprehensive vision to uplift digital skills across the multi-disciplinary health and care workforce through existing programmes like The Digital Academy, Digital Health Leadership Programme, Topol Digital Fellowship, and specific free training programmes for social care professionals.