Recommendation 6

The Department and NHSX lack the information they and local organisations need on which of the options for achieving digital transformation in local health and care systems achieves the best value for money. The Department considers that the £8.1 billion being invested in digital transformation will be sufficient to achieve its ambitions, but its costing estimates are based on very limited data. The capital element of this funding is subject to approval at the next spending review, due in autumn 2020, and there is likely to be financial pressures on the Department as a result of the COVID-19 response. NHSX plans to assess the cost and benefits of different approaches to electronic patient record systems within the next six months. Local organisations will need information on the whole-life cost and benefits, and the conditions on the ground needed for success, so that they can make the best choices about how to invest the limited funding available. Recommendation: NHSX should develop and publish a cost-benefit analysis of the various approaches available to local organisations when implementing their system solutions. It should also use the information to assess the realism of the £3 billion contribution from the NHS trust sector toward the overall budget of £8.1 billion. 8 Digital transformation in the NHS 1 Plans for digitally transforming the NHS