The board of Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board has highlighted its focus on scoping a business case for an integrated health record, and has set out work on its new digital and data strategy.
Board approval was granted back in July of 2024 to proceed with the preparation of relevant documentation to find a strategic partner for the delivery of a modular electronic patient record, the health board states. A focus for the digital and data team is now the scoping of a business case for an integrated health record “complemented by a digitally enabled patient centred contact programme”.
The national data resource programme has delivered the health board’s clinical data resource, the board continues, supporting the capture and transfer of clinical information in line with common standards. A procurement for a technical solution to support patient centred contact transformation is also underway, with a contract award expected to be made by the end of 2026.
On work to move clinical services to the community and closer to home, the board notes that a business case for a mental health EHR has been approved and funded, and options appraisals are to be undertaken for plans to digitise community services, for running the virtual care service, and for seamless integration of data.
For AI development and strategy, the board shares that infrastructure is being developed to enable services to use large language models for clinical care support, adding: “Alongside this, expertise has been sourced with the intention of assisting services gaining the requisite Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approvals for ‘software as a medical device’. This should enable innovators across the health board develop and test their applications in a performant and secure sandbox environment.”
Sharing work to date on the development of its digital and data plan, the health board defines 27 strategic initiative groups across LIMS upgrade, digital system implementation, digital and data literacy, diagnostics, cyber resilience, patient portal, and e-pharmacy. It indicates intentions to become an organisation that is “both AI-enabled and AI-responsible”, committing to encouraging innovation, supporting evaluation, and collaborating with partners to deploy AI solutions in line with national standards.
The board notes a focus on workforce digital skills, with an approach to assess, match, develop, and measure workforce readiness built around pillars including defining capability areas, setting proportionate expectations by role, targeting support to identified need, and evidencing adoption, impact, usage, and learning.
The board states: “The digital & data team has made good progress during the period on delivery of the strategic delivery plan, at a time when we have also implemented a series of new technologies into the organisation. Major transformation programmes, infrastructure modernisation and service management improvements are progressing, whilst governance and assurance arrangements continue to mature. Strategic risks remain around resilience, workforce capacity and long-term sustainability which will require continued management.”
Wider trend: Digital transformation in Wales
In a special report on the topic of digital transformation across Wales, sponsored by Altera Digital Health, HTN explored the latest on national ambitions, current programmes and priorities across Welsh health boards, and insights from digital leaders.
Digital Health and Care Wales has announced every GP practice in Wales is now using EMIS Web, with the final practices going live to complete the national roll out. 193 GP practices have transition from Vision to EMIS Web, with Riverside Medical Practice in Caerphilly and Newport Surgery in Pembrokeshire recently going live. DHCW notes that the programme began in June 2024 and has seen “more than 1.75 million patient records safely migrated and over 5,000 practice staff supported through training, preparation and go-live activities”. This has been supported by DHCW’s Primary Care Services team providing more than 17,400 hours of support.
A collaboration between Welsh critical care services and the University of Warwick is exploring how immersive technologies can bring specialist support closer to those on the frontline, with an aim to support decision making during remote care or patient transfers. The 999 REACH (Remote Access for Enhanced, Adaptive, Collaborative Healthcare) project, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, will test three different approaches for receiving specialist support remotely: telephone, video consultation via a tablet with 360-degree camera feed, and “full immersion” using a VR headset.
