How is the NHS tech agenda changing for 2023?

Plans to merge NHS Digital with NHS England have been accelerated to support the NHS plan for patients

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on gov.uk

The Data saves lives strategy (June 2022) set out how data will be used to improve care for patients and service users, outlining how the NHS will ensure that the benefits and lessons learned from the response to COVID-19 are realised for the longer term. The strategy includes building the right foundations to achieve this; one key action was to bring together NHS Digital and NHS England, to provide a single statutory body for data, digital and technology.

Plans to transform NHS data-sharing have now been brought forward meaning that patients will benefit from more streamlined care and be able to make more informed choices about how and where they access treatment. The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the proposed transfer of NHS Digital’s functions into NHS England (NHSE), which was due to happen at the end of March 2023, would now happen in early January 2023.

The move will create a single statutory body responsible for data and digital technology for the NHS – meaning that patients will benefit from:

• a streamlined experience due to reduced need to repeatedly share information across the health system;
• the ability to make more informed choices about care by providing information about length of wait for treatment, making waiting lists by speciality and by provider, more accessible – which is a key part of Our plan for patients;
• easier access to electronic patient records through accelerated digital transformation services for patients.

The move will build on the huge progress seen in digital transformation during the pandemic, driving efficiencies across the NHS; evidence suggests digitally mature providers are 10% more efficient than their less digitally mature peers.

Accelerating the transfer will lead to faster improvements in co-operation between the key digital bodies of the NHS by bringing them under one roof for the first time; this will ensure the health and care sector is fully-equipped to face the future and deliver for patients.

In line with commitments made to parliament, NHS England will provide the same protections for people’s data as NHS Digital, while taking advantage of the merger to improve processes where possible. Working closely with partners, including the information commissioner and the national data guardian, DHSC and NHSE will ensure there continue to be rigorous internal controls to ensure that data is used and shared safely, securely and appropriately in order to:

• deliver high-quality care;
• understand and protect the health of the population;
• effectively plan and improve services;
• research and develop innovative treatments, vaccines and diagnostics.

Making effective use of the data collected by health and social care services is essential to delivering high quality care, and improving the health of the population. The transfer, which is subject to parliamentary approval and agreement with the devolved administrations, will see the statutory role of NHS Digital move to NHS England.

This is an important change to make sure that all the expertise and activity in relation to data and digital services are together in a single organisation which meets a key recommendation of Laura Wade-Gery’s 2021 review, Putting data, digital and tech at the heart of transforming the NHS.

The changes will better support the recovery of NHS services, address waiting list backlogs, and support hardworking staff – all while driving forward an ambitious agenda of digital transformation and progress. Following the merger NHS Digital, as a separate arm’s length body of the DHSC, will cease to exist.

NHS Digital staff and assets will all transfer to NHS England before going through the wider Creating a New NHS England change programme which will ensure it retains the necessary talent and expertise of NHS Digital.