Report says government must address failures in digital transformation

The government needs to address past failures in its digital transformation plans for healthcare, including failure to address differences in digital maturity, to involve frontline staff in transformations, a parliamentary committee has said in a report released today and tackling digital exclusion.

Report of the Health and Social Care Committee of the House of Commons digital transformation in NHS It highlighted five key areas where it said the government needed to act: leveling the digital playing field for different sectors and trusts; involve and engage employees; improving digital skills and wages to recruit technology talent; focusing on digital exclusion within the population; and overhauling the NHS app.

Friday’s report follows an assessment by an independent expert panel in February, which strongly criticized the government’s progress in digitizing the NHS, accusing it of “inadequate funding” and a list of “missed opportunities”. Was.

Although the report of the Health and Social Care Committee emphasized that previous attempts to move the NHS to a more technologically sustainable basis had been disappointing, the committee suggested that the current government should respond to the need to overcome existing constraints. was aware and this time there were reasons for optimism. nearby.

“Successive governments have attempted digital transformation of the NHS. Progress has been slow and uneven, and there is now substantial variation between organisations,” the report said. “This effort has the potential to be different, with clear intentions and funding to address the factors that have frustrated progress in the past.”

The report states that a major barrier to digital progress in the NHS is the “predominance of older ‘legacy’ IT systems and hardware that cannot handle the demands of modern digital healthcare.” Healthcare also lacks basic working IT equipment. The report says the government needs to ensure the NHS system is raised to a minimum standard of digital capability.

As part of this aim, the committee said that the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), NHS England and the Integrated Care Board (ICB) should follow the Hewitt Review’s recommendation that they adopt a standard framework to be adopted by all ICs. Work together to grow. , to improve interoperability and data sharing. It added: “This should include working together with sectors that may be involved in shared records in future, including pharmacy, mental health and community health to ensure that what is kept meets their needs.”

digitally enabled workforce

The report found that healthcare also needs to engage leaders, practitioners and frontline workers in the process of digital transformation. It added: “Co-creating digital initiatives with employees – including but not limited to practitioners – is essential to ensure these deliver improvements to existing working practices and problems. The government must ensure that those working in the NHS have the time and space to engage with the digital transformation.

The committee also acknowledged the challenges of recruiting technical talent in healthcare, given the high level of remuneration in the private sector. It advised the government to allow NHS England to move away from the pay scale change agenda when recruiting data, digital and technology (DDAT) specialists. It recommended that the DHSC implement a DDAT pay framework for NHS England to ensure it gets access to those who need it.

combating digital exclusion

The report reiterates the challenge facing healthcare serving those who are unable or unwilling to engage with digital healthcare, including “access to technology, digital skills and confidence and motivation to use a digital service” Related problems”. The report states that as this category of people are likely to experience digital exclusion more widely, an intergovernmental approach will be important to address the problem.

Part of addressing digital exclusion, the report found, is to determine the benefits of using technology for patients and address the risks and patient concerns, including concerns about data use. The report said the government is developing the NHS app as a “front door” to NHS services which could ease pressure on the health service; Its success in achieving this will depend on whether it can present a compelling case for using the app, such as when it was used to host Covid Pass in 2021, the report said. Was.”

In a comprehensive overview of health apps, the committee reflected that although apps provide an accessible entry point to health technology for users, “it can be nearly impossible for patients to identify quality apps that demonstrate efficacy.” or present a risk in terms of security.” Increasing the risk that a negative experience will make users less likely to use digital services in the future. The report recommends that the DHSC ad NHS England introduce a wider NHS accreditation for third party apps.

Also, the report said that the government should not forget that there will always be people who will need or prefer to use non-digital channels.

“The NHS is a universal service. The government must ensure that it maintains a twin-track digital and non-digital services to prevent people from being denied the healthcare they deserve.

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