Care in the Digital Age: delivery plan 2025 to 2026
Update for 2025 to 2026 to the national digital health and care strategy's delivery plan which describes activities supporting Health Boards, HSCPs, local authorities, primary care, social care, social work, and care providers to offer new or improved services.
Digital Futures - Innovating and Enhancing Our Digital Nation
Our wellbeing and economy benefits as Scotland remains at the heart of digital innovation and development.
What we will deliver:
Opportunities for knowledge exchange, funding and collaboration with international stakeholders.
Why we are doing this:
Promoting Scotland as a leader and as a strong collaborative and learning partner in digital health and care
Support the sustainable development and delivery of digital health and social care for Scotland.
Our International Engagement Team continues to deliver knowledge exchange, funding and collaboration.
Who is leading this work:
- Scottish Government Digital Health and Care
- DHI
When it will be delivered and progress:
- Completed
- Ongoing
What we will deliver:
Data tools to improve and automate theatre scheduling increasing the number of operations carried out across multiple specialties.
Why we are doing this:
Help tackle waiting list backlogs by expanding the number of boards involved in piloting.
Pilots demonstrated a 15%-20% increase in operating theatre capacity. The First Minister confirmed in his Renewal statement of 27 January 2025 that the programme would be rolled out nationally and this has been confirmed in the recently published Operational Improvement Plan.
Who is leading this work:
- NHS Golden Jubilee
- CfSD
When it will be delivered and progress:
- Pilots completed September 2023.
- Procurement completed April 2024.
- National roll-out confirmed in January with rollout plan produced end June 2025.
What we will deliver:
A National approach to the ethical, transparent consideration of adoption and implementation of AI based tools, products and services.
Why we are doing this:
Create a national policy framework for the use of AI as part of overall work on the Data Strategy.
Delayed to co-ordinate alongside the wider work of the Scottish AI Alliance during 2025. The National Policy Framework is due to be published September 2025.
Who is leading this work:
- Scottish Government Digital Health and Care
- COSLA
- LGDO
When it will be delivered and progress:
- March 2025
- Revised to September 2025
- On Track
What we will deliver:
Launch health and social care themed ‘Innovation for Wellbeing’ challenges through CivTech 10.
Why we are doing this:
Provide a national opportunity for multiple health and social care organisations to collaboratively identify and request solutions for specific challenges facing the health and social care sector.
An approach that seeks to bring to light innovation and ideas on an established national platform that can benefit of the whole of Scotland.
CivTech challenges allows the bespoke nature of health and social care sector which requires a unique set of skills and approaches given its complexity and size to come together to develop innovative solutions.
Due for delivery in April 2024, this work was paused to allow more detailed planning and is expected to be part of a future cohort.
Who is leading this work:
- CivTech (Digital Directorate)
- Scottish Government Digital Health and Care and Chief Scientist Office (CSO)
- NHS Test Beds
- DHI
- LGDO and others, depending on the nature of the challenges.
When it will be delivered and progress:
- April 2024
- Paused
Contact
Email: DHCPolicyHub@gov.scot