Digital health and care strategy

Our Vision

'To improve the care and wellbeing of people in Scotland by making best use of digital technologies in the design and delivery of services.'

Right care, right place, right time

• Whole of life support
• Active, independent living
• Proactive and personalised

Aims

This is a strategy that sets out how we will work together to improve the lives of people in the context of the Scottish Government and COSLA's broader vision for national wellbeing across society and in line with the National Performance Framework. Building on the ambitions of the 2018 Digital Health and Care Strategy, we will deliver our vision through the key aims detailed below.

Aim 1: Citizens have access to, and greater control over, their own health and care data – as well as access to the digital information, tools and services they need to help maintain and improve their health and wellbeing.

Aim 2: Health and care services are built on people-centred, safe, secure and ethical digital foundations which allow staff to record, access and share relevant information across the health and care system, and feel confident in their use of digital technology, in order to improve the delivery of care.

Aim 3: Health and care planners, researchers and innovators have secure access to the data they need in order to increase the efficiency of our health and care systems, and develop new and improved ways of working.

Our Priorities

Of course, delivering on these aims in and of itself does not guarantee improved outcomes for people: the health and care system as whole – and its partners in wider society – need to continue to embrace the change required. This includes but is not limited to:

• Committing to constantly improve, innovate and evolve – and sometimes change completely.
• Making better use of the data, both that already held and data which is not routinely held at present.
• Involving people and staff in the design of tools, technologies and services that support them, noting that that those that have been designed with users are more likely to deliver meaningful and lasting change that improves outcomes.

To achieve our aims, and ultimately our vision, we will focus on six priority areas.

Digital access

• People have flexible digital access to information, their own data and services which support their health and wellbeing, wherever they are.

Digital services

• Digital options are increasingly available as a choice for people accessing services and staff delivering them.

Digital foundations

• The infrastructure, systems, regulation, standards, and governance are in place to ensure robust and secure delivery.

Digital skills and leadership

• Digital skills are seen as core skills for the workforce across the health and care sector.

Digital futures

• Our wellbeing and economy benefits as Scotland remains at the heart of digital innovation and development.

Data-driven services and insight

• Data is harnessed to the benefit of citizens, services and innovation.

While all the action areas contribute to the aims of this strategy, their main alignment is outlined below:

Aim:

Citizens have access to, and greater control over, their own health and care data – as well as access to the digital information, tools and services they need to help maintain and improve their health and wellbeing.

Achieved through:

• Digital access
• Digital services
• Data-driven services and insight

Aim:

Health and care services are built on people-centred, safe, secure and ethical digital foundations which allow staff to record, access and share relevant information across the health and care system, and feel confident in their use of digital technology, in order to improve the delivery of care.

Achieved through:

• Digital services
• Digital foundations
• Digital skills and leadership
• Data-driven services and insight

Aim:

Health and care planners, researchers and innovators have secure access to the data they need in order to increase the efficiency of our health and care systems, and develop new and improved ways of working.

Achieved through:

• Digital futures
• Data-driven insight
• Digital foundations
• Digital access