NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) has published its strategic framework for 2024-2026, setting out the organisation’s vision, values and priorities – namely to enable transformation by supporting the implementation of new solutions, to continually improve services, and to active seek opportunities for collaboration.
The framework specifies that a key component of NSS’s work lies in digital and security, highlighting “expertise” around the delivery and management of digital platforms, supporting services and cyber security. Other components include national procurement, with NSS pledging to work collaboratively to procure “best quality, fit for purpose and best value” solutions; and primary care support, including the maintenance of an up-to-date patient registration base.
NSS goes on to detail national solutions currently provided or in development, including a shared service intended to support the Scottish health service with cyber, information security and governance service, to be delivered through Scotland’s Cyber Centre of Excellence. Additionally, the framework highlights the data and analytics platform Seer2 which provides a “comprehensive view of shared data sets supporting operational decision making” and reportedly supports over 20,000 users to date.
Other solutions include the roll-out of the inventory management system to all health boards across Scotland, designed to enable real-time accurate data management; the community benefits gateway which connects NHSScotland suppliers with third sector community organisations; and the coordination of national surveillance and reporting around infections and antimicrobial resistance.
The framework can be viewed in full here.
Scotland in the spotlight
Last week we explored the new digital and data capability framework, launched in Scotland with the aim of supporting digital skills across the entire health and social care workforce and spanning six key areas of focus: using technology; innovation and service improvement; identity, safety and wellbeing; communication; handling information and data; and learning and development.
We also reported the Scottish Government’s announcement of£1 million in funding for the Inclusion Health and General Practice programme’s second year, as well June’s announcement of £3.6 million in funding for 2024/25 to support the Hospital at Home service for older people.
On strategies, we recently examined the climate emergency and sustainability strategy for 2024-2027 from NSS, which highlights plans for a digital-first approach “both to the work of its own staff and the delivery of training”. We also took a look at Scotland’s genomic medicine strategy for 2024-2029, which highlights a need for national digital infrastructure, and the Scottish Government’s updated ‘Care in the Digital Age’ strategy.
Earlier in the year HTN covered a report on Scotland’s progress around digital strategy commitments; the news that NSS contracted a cloud-based software to serve as an enhanced document workflow solution across all GP practices in Scotland; plans for the development of a “once for Scotland” digital heart failure system.
Finally, we explored the expansion of the data and analytics platform mentioned in the framework, Seer/Seer2, with the latest iteration of the platform utilising cloud technology to increase opportunities and flexibility around accessing new tools and technologies.
