Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 21
21
Accepted
NHS digital transformation faces unique challenges; procurement processes hinder adoption of new technology.
Conclusion
NHSE told us that integration and record sharing across the NHS system features heavily within the 10 Year Health Plan, aiming to address a key weakness of the current system. NHSE said that digital transformation in the NHS presents unique challenges, compared to other healthcare systems, as there are no other systems that are as comprehensive as the NHS.47 NHSE told us that a lot of technology is now being made available to the NHS and time will need to be spent determining what the role of the centre of government is in adopting new technology, including whether the NHS moves away from central capital procurement towards allowing local organisations to procure on a smaller scale. We were told by NHSE that modern technology is “cheaper and easier to procure, but [NHSE’s] processes currently do not support that.”48 44 Q 73 45 Q 41 46 Q 13 47 Q 84 48 Q 84 13
Government Response Summary
The government agrees and describes the ongoing shift to digital in elective care transformation, emphasising the need for organisational and cultural change, deploying interoperable Electronic Patient Records, strengthening cyber security, and ensuring transparent data governance.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation Recommendation implemented 4.2 The shift from analogue to digital underpins elective care transformation by enabling new models of care, operational change and improved use of data. Achieving this requires organisational and cultural change, not just technology. Digital adoption will continue to support efficiency gains, including improved waiting list validation and reduced Did Not Attends (DNAs). 4.3 Progress depends on replacing legacy systems, deploying interoperable Electronic Patient Records (EPRs), strengthening cyber security and ensuring transparent data governance. A secure, scalable infrastructure will also enable more care to be delivered in the community. 4.4 Digital diagnostics are increasing connectivity within and between networks, enabling shared requests, tests and results, improving productivity and supporting seamless pathways. The Federated Data Platform is helping optimise theatre use and accelerate discharge of long-stay patients. The AI Diagnostic Fund, active in over half of trusts, is advancing AI- enabled imaging. Ambient AI will reduce administrative burden for clinicians, increasing available capacity. 4.5 Transformation of the e-Referral Service will expand Advice and Guidance and Single Point of Access models to reduce unnecessary referrals and speed up triage in support of elective care. It will also introduce “any-to-any” referral capability across all care settings. Full connection of acute hospitals to the NHS App by April 2026 will support a shift away from default in-person appointments, enabling wider use of remote monitoring, Patient Initiated Follow-Up (PIFU) and automated rescheduling. 4.6 Digital change will reinforce implementation of best-practice pathways, reducing unwarranted variation in follow-ups and freeing capacity, delivered alongside clinical and operational transformation rather than as a stand-alone solution.