Care in the Digital Age: delivery plan 2025 to 2026

Digital Foundations

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

What we will deliver:

Implementation of a new National GP IT System, moving to a single cloud hosted solution (Cegedim Vision).

Why we are doing this:

More advanced systems supporting GP practices will deliver improved practice management and patient care. Speed up some admin tasks leading to better recording of health information

Improve Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) and Community Treatment and Care (CTAC) services, thanks to greater ability to share patient records with remote and mobile access. Introduce additional features designed to support patients, such as advanced appointment functionality.

Unexpected administration of supplier’s parent company in January 2025 has caused delay. We have been able to ensure service continuity and access to data, with migrations expected to resume later in 2025.

Who is leading this work:

NSS

When it will be delivered and progress:

• Delayed
• Full roll-out to be completed in 2026

What we will deliver:

Adoption of GS1 standards as part of the implementation of the NHS Scotland Scan for Safety Programme

Why we are doing this:

Improve tracking of medical equipment and medical devices across Scotland.

Who is leading this work:

NSS

When it will be delivered and progress:

• March 2026
• On Track

What we will deliver:

Hospital Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (HEPMA) system across Health Boards.

Why we are doing this:

Improve patient safety, better manage drug stocks, reduce paper, and reduce medication errors

HEPMA will be implemented across all but one of the Health Boards by December 2025.

Who is leading this work:

NSS

When it will be delivered and progress:

• December 2025
• Delayed

What we will deliver:

Re-Procure Scotland’s Picture and Archiving Communications System (PACS) used for storing and accessing digital images (MRI, Xrays etc).

Why we are doing this:

Support fast access to images from any location. Provide opportunities for improved utilisation of scarce radiology resources, making images accessible for safe patient care

Support development of innovations such as Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Ten-year Transition plan and start of preparatory work on new network and equipment was completed April 2024.

Who is leading this work:

NSS

When it will be delivered and progress:

Completed

What we will deliver:

A new secure public sector network service via the ‘Scottish Wide Area Network’ (SWAN) providing a faster, private and secure pan public sector network service across Scotland.

Why we are doing this:

Increase the use of online services

Improve the performance and resilience of data transfer, contributing toward better patient care

Provide greater resilience in our systems throughout the public sector.

Continues as a seven-year ongoing programme. Change in supplier arrangements and start of transition to new contract completed March 2024.

Who is leading this work:

NSS

When it will be delivered and progress:

Completed

What we will deliver:

A new master patient management system (known as Community Health Index (CHI)), enabling the old system to be switched off/decommissioned.

Why we are doing this:

Upgrade and modernise our core patient demographics infrastructure, providing enhanced patient identification and matching their health information to their core health record.

Who is leading this work:

NSS

When it will be delivered and progress:

Completed

What we will deliver:

Transition to Digital Telecare for the 142,000 service users in receipt of Telecare in Scotland through supporting Telecare service providers in the transition to digital telephony and establishing a shared cloud-based Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC).

Why we are doing this:

Support more people to access care at home. Increase resilience in our Digital Telecare infrastructure.

Allow adopting providers to take advantage of shared routes to implementation of new technologies. Improve access to data and open new service delivery models.

Future proof services for people, fully utilising data, encouraging collaboration and innovation opportunities.

Remove obsolete analogue telecare solutions. Help prevent unavoidable hospital admissions.

On track, with 76,600 people (67%) transferred as of April 2025 and the procured service available to all HSCPs. Local Government’s initial modelling is predicting this could save an estimated 30,000 Accident and Emergency call outs a year.

Who is leading this work:

• Scottish Government Digital Health and Care
• COSLA
• LGDO
• Scottish Federation Housing Associations (SFHA)

When it will be delivered and progress:

• On Track
• Full transition to Digital Telecare completed by December 2025

What we will deliver:

Optimisation of the Microsoft 365 platform to support clinical and business operations, maximising collaboration and communication to those organisations using the platform.

Why we are doing this:

Enhancing the use of Microsoft 365 will increase efficiency and deliver an improved, more collaborative working experience.

Support national priorities for Proactive and Preventative Care, National Care Service, NHS Recovery and the Healthcare Framework for Care Homes.

New 4-year contract agreed by NSS. We continue to work with Local Government Digital Office to manage this as Business As Usual service and develop improvements. Pace of delivery will be dependent on NHS roll-out of MS Sharepoint.

Who is leading this work:

NSS

When it will be delivered and progress:

• December 2025
• On Track

What we will deliver:

The ability for Health and Social care professionals to safely and easily share information through the roll-out of Microsoft 365.

Why we are doing this:

Enable Health and local government-employed Social Work and Social Care staff to collaborate and share information

Ease pressure on our service delivery systems and provide additional resilience as part of our approach to winter planning.

Work continues to progress with 75% of councils now live through Phase 1 and 84% with direct access to M365 Skills Hub.

Who is leading this work:

• COSLA
• LGDO
• Scottish Government Digital Health and Care

When it will be delivered and progress:

• Phase 1 Completed
• Phase 2 March 2027
• On Track

What we will deliver:

Digital products that schedule, appoint and report on the number of vaccinations and immunisations delivered by Scotland’s Vaccination Immunisation Programme (SVIP).

Why we are doing this:

Support the delivery of Scotland’s ambition to have a world class vaccination and immunisation programme, and support the creation of a ‘lifetime’ single vaccination record.

Due for delivery April 2025, this work has yet to commence. A Digital Lead has been appointed and a business case is in development.

Who is leading this work:

Public Health Scotland (PHS)

When it will be delivered and progress:

Delayed

What we will deliver:

Requirements and understanding of how National IT Contract (NITC) services can be transitioned from the current environment to a new modern infrastructure that adheres to current standards.

Why we are doing this:

Ensure our systems are secure and resilient to comply with legislative standards.

NITC Futures continues to coordinate stakeholder communications and report progress of service areas to their future state. It will assess current and estimated provision of support staff in national procurement, clinical safety, service management, contract and operational support; and support areas such as the re-provision of SCI Gateway.

Who is leading this work:

NSS

When it will be delivered and progress:

• Contract ending in 2026, with a two-year transitional process agreed
• On Track

What we will deliver:

Modern Business Systems on a ‘Once for NHS Scotland’ basis

Why we are doing this:

Ensure our Human Resources (HR), Payroll, Finance and Procurement systems meet the needs of our 160,000 staff, suppliers and partners.

NSS has issued procurement tender. This work is progressing, with a new timescale to be confirmed as part of the procurement process.

Who is leading this work:

NSS

When it will be delivered and progress:

• April 2024
• Delayed

What we will deliver:

An eRostering system to support the implementation of the Safer Staffing Act (2019)

Why we are doing this:

Enable Health Boards to increase access to health and care service

Provide real-time data to support service delivery

Who is leading this work:

• NSS
• Scottish Government Chief Nursing Officer Directorate

When it will be delivered and progress:

Completed

What we will deliver:

A replacement for the current Child Health System

Why we are doing this:

Replace our legacy Child Health System and support the development of modern cloud-based infrastructure that adheres to current, modern standards

Ensure our Child Health system is secure and resilient and able to comply with legislative standards. Enable an improved way of delivering child health services.

Migration of five components commenced January 2025. There have been issues with the required volume of change and delivery has been extended accordingly.

Who is leading this work:

NSS

When it will be delivered and progress:

Delayed to October 2025

What we will deliver:

Re-Procurement of Docman (GP Document Management solution).

Why we are doing this:

Ensure continuity of service to GP practices, delivering a cloud-based document management system that is integrated with the GP record and supporting workflow.

Please refer to the deliverable regarding the National GP IT system. Implementation plan has been agreed with NSS.

Who is leading this work:

NSS

When it will be delivered and progress:

• December 2025
• On Track

What we will deliver:

Digital Prescribing and Dispensing (DPDP) for GPs

Why we are doing this:

Remove ‘wet ink’ signatures from GP Prescriptions, enabling electronic prescribing and dispensing without paper

Improve the citizen experience when engaging with Primary, Secondary and Community Care.

Commissioning letter and funding issued for 2025-26. Full revised timescale will be confirmed as part of the Business Case currently being developed.

Who is leading this work:

• NES
• NSS

When it will be delivered and progress:

• March 2025
• Delayed

What we will deliver:

Enable modernisation and improvement of laboratory services through the implementation of a single national Laboratory Information Management System across 12 NHS Boards in Scotland.

Why we are doing this:

Enable data to flow to the National Digital Platform (NDP).

Who is leading this work:

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC)

When it will be delivered and progress:

• Rollout by 2028
• On Track

What we will deliver:

Cloud-based digital components and services brought together to store and share defined patient data sets.

Why we are doing this:

Make it easier to build, enhance, share and access data across Scotland’s Health and Care System through the implementation of the National Digital Platform

Originally due for delivery in April 2024, this has been included in wider work to develop options for the personalised digital health and care service comprising the Digital Front Door, National Digital Platform, and the Digital Health and Care Record.

The first version of the NDP Data Storage Service is live and meeting the storage and integration needs of multiple national use cases, including Digital Dermatology, Scan For Safety and ReSPECT.

Who is leading this work:

• NES
• NSS

When it will be delivered and progress:

• April 2024
• Ongoing

What we will deliver:

Internationally recognised SNOMED CT (Clinical Terminology) coding for all digital systems.

Why we are doing this:

Remove the dependency on legacy READ codes

Increase the quality of the data in our health and social care systems leading to greater insights being derived from data that can improve health and care outcomes.

Who is leading this work:

NSS

When it will be delivered and progress:

• March 2026
• On Track

What we will deliver:

Delivery of the first phase of development of Digital Health and Care Record (previously referred to as the Integrated Social Care and Health Record) for Scotland.

Why we are doing this:

A nationally consistent digital health and care record will help to further our ambition of giving citizens access to their health and care data in a way that is transparent and meaningful and support greater sharing of information between those providing care support.

Originally due for delivery in March 2026, this has been included in wider work to develop options for the personalised digital health and care service comprising the Digital Front Door, National Digital Platform, and Digital Health and Care Record.

Who is leading this work:

NES

When it will be delivered and progress:

• March 2026
• Delayed

What we will deliver:

Implement a technology that enables NHS staff to access multiple platforms through a single sign-on solution.

Why we are doing this:

Implementation of a single sign on for Scotland will bring consistency of access across NHS Scotland.

Simplify the login process for staff as well as providing the ability to audit the use of systems ensuring data is only accessed by those who need to see it.

Due for delivery in March 2025, this is delayed due to technical complexity. Work is in progress however, with the Scottish Government’s Digital Directorate and the National Digital Platform, to develop an agreed national approach.

Who is leading this work:

• NES
• NSS

When it will be delivered and progress:

• March 2025
• Delayed

What we will deliver:

A Technical Roadmap for Scotland will be developed outlining the target architecture for improving digital and data infrastructure across the health and social care sector including the replacement of SCIstore.

Why we are doing this:

Building on the digital record work (above) to encompass all major systems for Health and Care, providing a single reference blueprint built on common, open standards.

An initial blueprint has been agreed and will develop further through the work of the Technical Design Authority.

Who is leading this work:

Scottish Government Digital Health and Care

When it will be delivered and progress:

• December 2025
• Delayed

What we will deliver:

Requirements for Scottish Referrals and Communications gathered.

Why we are doing this:

Gather the requirements for a ‘once for NHS Scotland’ approach to Referrals and Communications in primary and secondary care

Due for delivery in April 2024, this work has been impacted by funding constraints.

Who is leading this work:

• NHS Fife
• NES
• NSS

When it will be delivered and progress:

• April 2024
• Delayed

What we will deliver:

An options appraisal undertaken on the feasibility of introducing a new national approach to managing Radiology Information Systems (RIS).

Why we are doing this:

Support the transformation of Radiology services across Scotland

A new national approach to RIS will result in better co-ordination and management of radiology services, including tracking and issuing results to patients.

Due for delivery in December 2024, this work has been impacted by funding constraints.

Who is leading this work:

All NHS Boards

When it will be delivered and progress:

• December 2024
• Delayed

What we will deliver:

Set up programme Board to scope out and develop a business case for a National Infection, Prevention and Control surveillance eSystem for Scotland.

Why we are doing this:

Replace legacy systems with a modern cloud-based National Infection, Prevention and Control surveillance system for Scotland.

Due for delivery in March 2025, funding for this work is currently being sought. An Outline Business Case has been drafted and pre-procurement work is under way.

Who is leading this work:

Scottish Government Chief Nursing Officer Directorate

When it will be delivered and progress:

• March 2025
• Delayed

What we will deliver:

An Applications strategy and roadmap for Scotland.

Why we are doing this:

Support full product lifecycle management

Optimise our investment in the M365 platform

Provide our workforce with the tools required to support the digital transformation/reform of service delivery

To ensure our application platform focuses on clinical safety, scale up and adoption, adhering to our ambitions for a common technical blueprint and digital record.

Who is leading this work:

• NSS
• Scottish Government Digital Health and Care
• Health Board Digital Leads

When it will be delivered and progress:

Completed