NHS Scotland’s Operational Improvement Plan Turns Digital Vision Into Action
NHS Scotland has unveiled its operational improvement plan, emphasising the rollout of its health and social care app, referred to as the “digital front door” to healthcare.
The plan adopts a “stronger digital-first approach” to “further harness the benefits” of innovation and digital technology.
The strategy includes the nationwide rollout of a digital dermatology pathway to general practitioners (GPs) across Scotland and all health boards by the end of spring 2025.
This follows the introduction of a digital service enabling GPs to capture images of skin issues and submit them for dermatology referrals.
The pathway is utilised by six health boards and over 400 GP practices
Evidence suggests it allows “around 50 percent” of patients to return to their GP without requiring an in-person consultation with a specialist.
Additionally, NHS Scotland plans to collaborate with NHS Education for Scotland to begin the rollout of its health and social care app by the end of 2025.
This forms part of a broader vision to establish a “new national personalised digital health and care service” within five years.
Features of the app will include viewing hospital appointments, receiving communications, and updating personal information, with an initial release slated for December 2025 for a limited cohort in Lanarkshire.
Efforts are also underway to utilise the Community Health Index (CHI) to match individuals’ records
This will extend the “digital front door” to provide access to local information and social care services.
By enhancing information sharing “across health, social work, and social care settings,” the CHI will help streamline access for citizens, reduce repeated information requests, and create much-needed capacity in the healthcare system.
The document also highlights the deployment of a theatre scheduling tool, proven to improve operating theatre productivity by up to 20 percent.
All territorial health boards are expected to be included in the tool’s rollout plan by the end of June 2025, optimising theatre use and filling priority gaps in waiting lists.
A prioritisation of digital-first healthcare will “support tools enabling personalised patient experiences, tailored health recommendations, and proactive health management.”
The plan adds advancements in remote monitoring and digital mental health treatments that will further accelerate this transformation.
Digital Transformation in Scotland’s Health and Care Sector
The Scottish Government’s annual update on the NHS Recovery Plan, released late last year, underscores the pivotal role of digital innovation.
This includes empowering patients, fostering preventative care, managing demand, and addressing inequalities.
Key achievements were highlighted, such as progress in creating a digital front door, enhancing remote monitoring, and improving scheduling.
An update to the data strategy for health and social care is anticipated in 2025, alongside the continued development of AI policy and guidance for healthcare settings.
