NHS Scotland has published a prior information notice for a framework agreement to deliver a national digital diabetes remission programme, relying on digital solutions such as emotional wellbeing tools and app-based systems to aid with self-management activities..
The programme aims to provide support to eligible individuals with type 2 diabetes, helping them to achieve remission through a “structured, digitally delivered intervention”.
According to NHS Scotland, the programme will be delivered in three phases. The first phase is total diet replacement, which is expected to be delivered directly to a service user home and will take between 12–20 weeks. The second phase will last for 6–12 weeks, using a range of digital services to help with food reintroduction. The final phase will focus on weight loss maintenance, which will allow users to monitor, record and report on any food and drink intake, body weight, blood pressure, glycaemic control and daily activities and is estimated to take up to 12 months.
The framework agreement is said to last for four years, with an estimated value of £6 million. Service providers should register their interest through the Public Contracts Scotland website, offering solutions that can easily integrate with NHS Scotland’s existing systems, such as SCI-Gateway, to “facilitate the GP referral processes”. More details on this notice can be found here.
NHS Scotland digital transformation: the wider trend
In March, NHS Scotland published their operational improvement plan, which focuses on the implementation of its health and social care app, “further harnessing the benefits” of digital tech and innovation. The plan notes the national roll-out of a digital dermatology pathway to GPs across Scotland and to all health boards by the end of spring 2025, following the procurement of a digital service enabling GPs to take photos of skin issues and upload them to a dermatology referral.
Earlier this year, Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney, outlined plans around innovation, the Scottish health and social care app, Hospital at Home, and “better use of data”. He also outlined the potential for new technologies such as AI and robotics to “modernise” health services and “transform” diagnosis and treatment.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde recently awarded a contract to the virtual care solution Doccla, for its remote management platform aimed at helping patients with long-term health conditions. It covers the installation of Doccla, which was chosen for its ability to offer remote support to patients and scalability capabilities, helping to “manage the expansion of patient numbers”. It also integrates with the health board’s “cornerstone clinical systems” in use.
