Recommendation 19

The Global Digital Exemplar (GDE) programme, run by NHSX, aims to create a cadre of high-performing trusts which other trusts can follow (in particular partner trusts, known as ’fast followers’). Despite the variation between the digital maturity of trusts, the National Audit Office found that the GDE programme had focused on improving the digital maturity of a small number of higher-performing trusts. In 2016–17, the programme committed to providing £385 million of funding between 26 relatively digitally-mature trusts to enable them to become world leaders (with smaller shares going to the fast followers).37 NHSX told us that it had moved from supporting the most digitally-mature trusts to helping the less-advanced trusts to catch up. It told us that it was also reducing the paperwork required for applications for funding, to make the process more manageable and make it easier for trusts that may not have the skills and capacity required to submit a top-quality business case. It explained that it also planned to increase its spending on training the digital workforce, from £3.5 million in 2019–20 to an estimated £9 million in 2020–21 and expected to increase this further in future. Its initial focus will be on training chief executives, boards and leadership teams, and it will next turn its focus to chief information officers and chief clinical information officers.38