The Transformation Directorate at NHS England has published its ‘What Good Looks Like’ (WGLL) guidance specifically to support nurse leaders accountable for digital transformation.
Last September, NHSX (now the Transformation Directorate at NHS England), published its ‘What Good Looks Like’ (WGLL) framework for NHS leaders, to support organisations with advice on best practice for digital transformation.
WGLL outlines seven success measures that set an established measure of best practice for Integrated Care Systems and organisations to accelerate digital transformation: they should be well led, ensure smart foundations and safe practice, support people, empower citizens, improve care and work towards healthy populations.
Now, guidance has been released for board-level nurse leaders to work alongside and support the framework through the practical application of its success measures. It takes the original WGLL framework and tailors the seven success measures specifically for supporting nursing digital transformation.
The guidance aims to provide assistance in implementing the key principles of WGLL, in order to create a digitally-enabled nursing workforce, whether it’s providing ‘citizen data at your fingertips’, to an ‘early warning score to automatically notifying a specialist team for support’.
The guidance asks what the future looks like for nursing and notes that increased used of digital and data is a key action area in the National Community Nursing Plan Engagement Document. ‘As shown by the COVID-19 pandemic,’ the guidance states, ‘care is constantly/continually improving through nurse-led research, of which digital transformation is a key enabler’.
It goes on to highlight that the future of nursing is a vision where nurses are empowered to practice and lead in a digitally-enabled health and social care system, and nursing practice is fully supported by the use of digital technology and data science.
In order to help those who hold accountability for digital transformation within their ICS or organisation, the guidance on WGLL includes supporting materials such as sharing of best practice, signposting to key resources, and connections with peers across systems and regions. By sharing real-life examples and a way for ICSs and organisations to share blueprints, templates and standards, the guidance intends to provide support in achieving the best possible digital transformation in nursing.
In the guidance foreword, Sonia Patel, System CIO, NHS England, said: “This guidance for board level nurse leaders accountable for digital transformation will work alongside and support the WGLL framework, through practically applying its success measures to nursing practice. By applying WGLL to nursing, we can showcase the importance of system-wide collaboration and community, with people and teams working together to achieve the overall WGLL aims.”
Read the full guidance here.
To read NHS clinicians, suppliers and innovators sharing their thoughts on the WGLL framework with HTN, click here.
