11
Accepted
Since 2016, management of the portfolio of national programmes to digitally transform the NHS has...
Conclusion
Since 2016, management of the portfolio of national programmes to digitally transform the NHS has been overseen by the Department, NHSE&I and NHS Digital. The National Audit Office reported that these governance arrangements were complex. It found that problems included confusion caused by there being multiple stakeholders, funding held in multiple budgets across organisations, and unclear lines of commissioning, funding, delivery and accountability. The NAO concluded that these issues contributed to slow delivery and transformation within the NHS. It found that previous attempts to improve these arrangements had been unsuccessful for a variety of reasons, for example, because accountability for managing development costs and for achieving programme benefits were shared across different organisations. The Department set up NHSX in July 2019 to lead digital transformation across the NHS to resolve conflicting priorities and confusions 13 Q48; C&AG’s report para 14 14 Qq 52–53 15 Qq 74 & 78 16 DGT0011 - NHS Providers, para 3; DGT0021 - The Nuffield Trust submission, para 5, 17 Q 31; NHS Long-Term Plan, NHS England, January 2019 Digital transformation in the NHS 11 and take overall responsibility for digital transformation.18
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee's observation regarding complex governance and states that the new digital strategy (Spring 2021) will outline clear roles and responsibilities for national digital bodies. The Digital Transformation Board has also been established to ensure strategic alignment and accountability.
Government Response
Accepted
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
3.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2021 3.2 DHSC and NHSX fully recognise the importance of having clear governance arrangements with defined roles and responsibilities across the health and social care system, to ensure transparency and accountability for the digital transformation of the NHS. It is crucial that the national bodies work together in a coherent and co-ordinated way to effectively deliver the digital transformation and ensure value for money. 3.3 The new digital strategy, due for publication in Spring 2021, will set out a clear vision for how the national digital bodies will work together as one team, to lead and empower local systems to digitally transform health and social care. It will outline their distinct roles and responsibilities, along with how they will operate cohesively to drive progress and ensure accountability. 3.4 DHSC and NHSX have already established the Digital Transformation Board, bringing together senior leaders from DHSC, NHSX, NHS Digital and NHS E&I, to ensure strategic alignment, clear accountability and joined-up decision-making across the national digital system.
Source
Committee
Public Accounts Committee
Report
Twenty-Second Report - Digital transformation in the NHS
06 Nov 2020
HC 680
Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age
5.7 yrs
Report published
06 Nov 2020