Digital transformation in the NHS

Health and Social Care Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 13 May 2022 Closed: 6 Sep 2023 Parliament page
The Committee has launched a new inquiry focusing on digital transformation in the NHS. The inquiry will explore the current use of digital technology and examine how it needs to change in order to deliver an improvement in services and outcomes for patients. The inquiry will consider key aspects of … Read more
8 Recommendations
7 Conclusions
1 Report
3 Oral sessions
3 Events
Activity timeline 8 events
6 Sep
2023
Report published
30 Jun
2023
Report published
14 Mar
2023
Oral evidence
14 Mar
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
11 Jan
2023
Oral evidence
11 Jan
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
15 Nov
2022
Oral evidence
15 Nov
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
14 Mar 2023
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Dr Tim Ferris · NHS England Kathy Hall · Department of Health and Social Care The Lord Markham CBE · Department of Health and Social Care
11 Jan 2023
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Chris Askew · Diabetes UK David Ramsden · Cystic Fibrosis Trust Dr Tim Ferris · NHS England Jackie Gray · NHS Digital Kathy Hall · Department of Health and Social Care Liz Ashall-Payne · ORCHA Simon Bolton · NHS Digital
15 Nov 2022
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Dr Paul Atkinson · Royal College of General Practitioners John Dean · Royal College of Physicians Karen Payne · NHS Dorset Pritesh Mistry · The King's Fund
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Eighth Report - Digital transformation in the NHS HC 223 30 Jun 2023 15 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
15 results
1 Conclusion Accepted
Eighth Report - Digital transforma…
Digital transformation of the NHS faces slow, uneven progress with significant challenges.
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 … Read more
Government Response
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.
Department of Health and Social Care
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2 Conclusion Deferred
Eighth Report - Digital transforma…
Demonstrate continued value of the new NHS App to existing and potential users.
The pandemic provided a unique incentive to download the NHS App, because it hosted the Covid-19 pass. The new version of the App should bring benefits in terms of functionality, integration and personalisation, but it will require people to download … Read more
Government Response
The government's response focuses on interoperability across local systems and institutions, the publication of a draft strategy, and the availability of shared care records, rather than addressing how it will demonstrate the continued value of the NHS App to its users.
Department of Health and Social Care
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3 Recommendation Deferred
Eighth Report - Digital transforma…
Publish timetable for new NHS App and comprehensive communication plan for its benefits.
We recommend that the Department and NHS England set out in response to this report: (a) A timetable for introducing the new, “native” NHS App, and (b) Their plan for communicating the benefits and features offered by the new App … Read more
Government Response
The government's response addresses initiatives to recruit and professionalise the Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) workforce through graduate schemes, apprenticeships, and defining job roles, but does not provide the requested timetable or communication plans for the NHS App.
Department of Health and Social Care
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4 Recommendation Accepted
Eighth Report - Digital transforma…
Standards framework essential for improving NHS interoperability and health data sharing across systems.
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 … Read more
Government Response
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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5 Conclusion Acknowledged
Eighth Report - Digital transforma…
Shortage of skilled digital professionals impedes NHS digital transformation and increases reliance on suppliers.
A shortage of skilled digital professionals working in the NHS has been a barrier to digital transformation to date. Digital specialists can often command higher wages or better conditions in the private sector. This makes recruitment and retention to the … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the broad challenges in attracting and retaining DDaT specialists due to pay, career progression, and professional structure. It states it is working to improve recruitment and retention, including reviewing pay measures, and directs the Committee to the Long-Term Workforce Plan for future solutions.
Department of Health and Social Care
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6 Recommendation Deferred
Eighth Report - Digital transforma…
Implement DDaT Pay Framework for NHS England specialists to improve recruitment and retention.
To ensure that the NHS is able to recruit the best candidates and sustainably meet demand for DDaT specialists, now and in the future, we recommend that the Department apply to implement the DDaT Pay Framework for NHS England DDaT … Read more
Government Response
The government's response details various past and ongoing programs aimed at supporting patients, carers, and health service staff with digital skills and promoting NHS App awareness, rather than addressing the recommendation to implement a DDaT Pay Framework for specialists to aid recruitment.
Department of Health and Social Care
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7 Recommendation Deferred
Eighth Report - Digital transforma…
Integrate digital training throughout all wider NHS professional learning programmes for staff.
Investment in the NHS’s specialist digital workforce needs to be matched by investment in the wider workforce’s forces digital skills. It is important that digital is understood as a thread that runs throughout healthcare, not as a specialist skill set … Read more
Government Response
The government discusses general digital exclusion and past initiatives like the Widening Digital Participation programme. It states it will continue to investigate and learn from existing models without committing to integrating digital training into NHS professional training programmes for the wider workforce.
Department of Health and Social Care
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8 Conclusion Deferred
Eighth Report - Digital transforma…
Ensure staff have dedicated time for co-designing new NHS digital initiatives effectively.
Without staff engagement in the entire process of introducing digital initiatives, digital transformation risks being perceived as an unwelcome, time-consuming imposition on an already over-stretched workforce. Co-designing digital initiatives with staff—including, but not limited to clinicians—is essential to ensure that … Read more
Government Response
The government's response focuses on surfacing digital therapeutics via the NHS App and public messaging to encourage their use, completely failing to address the recommendation regarding ensuring staff have time and headspace for co-designing digital initiatives.
Department of Health and Social Care
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9 Conclusion Accepted
Eighth Report - Digital transforma…
Significant digital skills gap in social care hinders sector transformation
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 … Read more
Government Response
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.
Department of Health and Social Care
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10 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Eighth Report - Digital transforma…
Set out approach for cross-departmental working to address digital exclusion
Responsibility for promoting digital inclusion does not rest solely, or even primarily, with the health service, and we are encouraged that the Department recognises the importance of cross-departmental working to address digital exclusion from its services. We recommend that it … Read more
Government Response
The government describes ongoing cross-departmental work and states that NHS England will publish a digital inclusion framework this summer, along with co-developing further resources, partially addressing the request to set out its approach.
Department of Health and Social Care
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11 Recommendation Accepted
Eighth Report - Digital transforma…
Ensure continued availability of non-digital channels for patient access to services
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 … Read more
Government Response
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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12 Recommendation Acknowledged
Eighth Report - Digital transforma…
Work collaboratively to understand best models for patient technology access and use
The NHS is a universal service, and people should not be unable to access it because of wider challenges around access to technology, connectivity and digital skills. The Department should work with NHS England and other Departments to understand what … Read more
Government Response
The government expresses its commitment to accessible healthcare and notes existing multiagency partnerships and past initiatives like the Widening Digital Participation programme. It commits to continuing to investigate and learn from current models to support patients in accessing technology.
Department of Health and Social Care
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13 Conclusion Acknowledged
Eighth Report - Digital transforma…
Department recognises need for better communication on data security and digital healthcare benefits
We are encouraged by the Department’s recognition that it needs to do better in both reassuring people about the security of data gathered by the health service, and communicating the benefits of digital healthcare. We need to see this matched … Read more
Government Response
The Department restates its recognition that it needs to improve communication on data security and the benefits of digital healthcare, and that different approaches are needed for different audiences.
Department of Health and Social Care
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14 Conclusion Accepted in Part
Eighth Report - Digital transforma…
Lack of systematic assessment for third-party health apps results in quality failures
Digital transformation can offer people more choice and control over their healthcare, and empower them to manage their health, and apps offer an accessible starting point for many. But whether peoples’ experiences with digital healthcare are positive depends in large … Read more
Government Response
The government closed the previous NHS Apps library as ineffective and established the Digital Technology Assessment Criteria (DTAC) as a national standard for digital health technologies used in the NHS. A directory of DTAC-compliant products is planned for late 2023/24, though it explicitly states this is not an accreditation scheme for all third-party apps.
Department of Health and Social Care
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15 Recommendation Rejected
Eighth Report - Digital transforma…
Introduce comprehensive accreditation scheme for third-party healthcare apps with clear publicity
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 … Read more
Government Response
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.
Department of Health and Social Care
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Government Response AI assessment · 15 of 8 classified
Accepted 4
Accepted in Part 2
Acknowledged 3
Deferred 5
Rejected 1
Total 8 recs + 7 conclusions