Care in the Digital Age: Delivery Plan 2023-24

Data-Driven Services and Insights

Priority Six: Data is harnessed to the benefit of citizens, services and innovation.

It is essential that data is used to the benefit of people, services, and innovation but in a secure, transparent and ethical way that is built on trust and a shared understanding with the public.

We committed in the Strategy, and our first Delivery Plan, to developing Scotland's first ever Data Strategy for Health and Social Care. Published in February 2023, it sets out our vision for making better use of the data we have, to improve access to the data we hold, and to ensure a strong focus on addressing known gaps and weaknesses in how we collect, share and analyse data to improve health outcomes – in a secure, transparent and ethical manner. We are developing a supporting delivery plan with our work in this area overseen by the Data Board for Health and Social Care that helps to co-ordinate and oversee all data requirements, leading the changes required to support improvements to information governance.

What we will deliver

Improved collection and quality of ethnicity data to support fair and equitable care and outcomes for everyone living in Scotland.

Why we are doing this

• Support fair and equitable care and outcomes for everyone living in Scotland and ensure that public bodies in Scotland's health and care sector can meet our responsibilities under the Public Sector Equalities Duty.

Who is leading this work

• PHS

When it will be delivered

• April 2024

What we will deliver

A Data delivery plan for Scotland that sets out our priorities based on the Health and Social Care Data Strategy, published in 2023.

Why we are doing this

• Demonstrate progress toward achieving the vision and ambitions of our Data Strategy, keeping transparency and accountability at the centre of how we work.

Who is leading this work

• Scottish Government Digital Health and Care Directorate
• COSLA

When it will be delivered

• December 2023

What we will deliver

A programme of work that sets out our approach to the introduction of legally mandated standards for the safe and effective sharing of information across health and social care, under the powers proposed by the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill.

Why we are doing this

• To improve the quality of our health and social care data, and drive up interoperability through using common standards, making it easier to re-use data.

Who is leading this work

• Scottish Government Digital Health and Care Directorate
• COSLA

When it will be delivered

• March 2028

What we will deliver

A 'Once for NHS Scotland' approach to standardised endoscopy reporting.

Why we are doing this

• Gather accurate activity data, prospective endoscopy quality data.
• Support endoscopy and urology training
• Optimise scheduling and booking efficiency.

Who is leading this work

• NSS

When it will be delivered

• March 2028

What we will deliver

A Primary Care Data and Intelligence Platform which makes available data from all GP IT systems daily for statistical analysis and reporting through the SEER platform. Controlled access to the data held in this platform will be made available on a use case basis to each Regional Board, PHS, NES and NSS.

Why we are doing this

• Make available data from all GP IT.
• Strengthen and improve availability of critical data for statistical analysis and reporting by providing greater technical capability to deliver data-driven insights.

Who is leading this work

• NSS
• PHS

When it will be delivered

• March 2026

What we will deliver

Transfer of the Right Decision Service, offering Clinical Decision Support Tools, from an innovation development to a mainstream service.

Why we are doing this

• Provide professionals with the ability to use multiple data-driven recommendations and decision support tools on a consistent platform.
• Provide validated evidence and guidance for health and care staff.
• Embed evidence within day-to-day tools and processes.

Who is leading this work

• HIS

When it will be delivered

• August 2023

What we will deliver

Yearly audits (via third-party supplier) on all NHS Health Boards.

Why we are doing this

• Assess compliance with the Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations undertaken.

Who is leading this work

• All Boards

When it will be delivered

• Ongoing – annual process.

What we will deliver

National approach to Information Governance (IG).

Lead on the prioritisation and implementation of the National IG Plan for Health and Social Care. This will include:

• Production of an ICO Code of Conduct
• Records Management Code of Practice
• IG Maturity Assessment Pilots
• IG Competency framework
• Consideration of a national body for oversight across health and care.

Why we are doing this

• Support a more efficient way of making decisions and managing data and digital across all health and social care in Scotland.
• Ensure that innovations driven by data and by digital technologies enable Health and Social Care to work and improve in a transparent, fair, consistent and secure way, with the benefits for people always at the forefront of our minds.
• Ensure that information across Health and Social Care is a secure enabler of improvement for people.

Who is leading this work

• Scottish Government Digital Health and Care Directorate
• COSLA

When it will be delivered

• April 2024

What we will deliver

Direction and guidelines on maximising use of existing digital infrastructure taking a 'Cloud First' approach where appropriate to do so.

Why we are doing this

• Increase resilience and access to performant, modern, integrated applications.
• Future-proofing our digital landscape.

Who is leading this work

• Scottish Government Digital Health and Care Directorate
• LGDO

When it will be delivered

• March 2024