Scottish parliament asks for opinions on digital health

The Scottish parliament is asking for opinions on its approach to eHealth, and where its successes and failures lie.

In a general call for views, released Wednesday, the Health and Sport Committee said it wants to hear about technology and innovation in healthcare.

The call-out said: “We want to hear about the successes and failures of existing telecare and telehealth strategies and the opportunities future developments might present”.

“The committee will also explore barriers to innovation in the NHS.”

In a statement, Neil Findlay, the convener of the Health and Sport Committee, described digital technology as having “the potential to change the face of health and social care delivery”.

“We want to find out whether enough is being done to realise that potential and to build a picture of how innovative an NHS we can expect to see in ten years’ time.”

The government is also asking for views on its draft Digital Health and Social Care Vision 2017-2020, including how well it addresses future requirements and queries if there are any significant omissions.

Findlay said that “innovation is going to be incredibly important in ensuring that services keep pace with technology and that systems are joined up and work for the whole of the NHS and care sector”.

“We’re asking for views on whether the Scottish Government’s draft Digital Health and Social Care strategy meets those aspirations.”

Scotland’s health IT has come under the spotlight over the last year.

In February, eight health boards were caught up in a cyber-attack against a supplier in the United States, with the personal data of at least 293 Scottish NHS staff compromised.

In October 2016, it was revealed by Scotland’s official auditors that the costs of introducing a new computer system to Scottish helpline NHS 24 have now risen to 73% more than was originally budgeted.

Audit Scotland says that every month when the Future Programme project is not operational NHS 24 is incurring another £500,000 in additional costs.

However, there have been innovations in healthcare too, with video technology trialed for premature babies at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, that allows parents to be updated on their children.

Scottish start-up, Snap24 has been successful in funding to produce a wearable that detects early deterioration in patients on wards and alerts clinicians.

The deadline for written evidence to the Scottish parliament is 12 July.

The full list of questions are:

1. What do you consider have been the main successes of the existing Scottish Government’s eHealth and telecare/telehealth strategies and why?
2. What do you consider have been the main failures of the existing Scottish Government’s eHealth and telecare/telehealth strategies and why?
3. How well does the Scottish Government’s draft Digital Health and Social Care Vision 2017-2022 address the future requirements of the NHS and social care sector?
4. Do you think there are any significant omissions in the Scottish Government’s draft Digital Health and Social Care vision 2017-2022.
5. What key opportunities exist for the use of technology in health and social care over the next 10 years?
6. What actions are needed to improve the accessibility and sharing of the electronic patient record?
7. What are the barriers to innovation in health and social care?