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10m to enable more patients to be treated at home.

Patients in Scotland will have secure online access to their own health information by 2020 Health Secretary Alex Neil said yesterday.

During a parliamentary debate Mr Neil also announced a further £10 million to support telehealth and telecare projects that allow patients to better manage their health, care and wellbeing at home.

This investment will enable more patients to use technology such as tablet computers, smartphones and other digital devices to monitor conditions such as diabetes, heart problems and lung problems in their own homes.

The longer term plan for digital records will offer patients and health staff immediate access to information on current health issues, and allow patients to provide up-to-date details such as an emergency contact.

Mr Neil outlined how the NHS in Scotland is already leading the way in using technology to improve Scotland’s healthcare services and will step up the pace to achieve its 2020 vision, which will ensure it is ready for all the challenges of the future.

Mr Neil said:

“Scotland is recognised worldwide as a leader in delivering care in new and innovative ways to benefits patients.

“I am determined that as technology continues to evolve, digital health tools will play a bigger part of our NHS and support our vision for twenty-first century healthcare.

“I have set our long term vision for the health service in Scotland through our 2020 vision, which is that everyone is able to live longer, healthier lives at home or in a homely setting.

“These projects demonstrate our commitment to build the digital future we want to see in our NHS.

“This future goal for patients to be able to access their health records online is one of the best and newest ways patients can keep track of their own care, including test results and prescriptions.

“The £10 million investment will see more patients use telehealth and telecare services and will enable them to contact health and care professionals directly through their smartphone, making everyday tasks such as booking appointments and ordering repeat prescriptions easier and quicker.

“It is part of our goal to support even more people to live independently in their own home – which is not only better for people's health but will also help meet the expectations of our population.”

The online records will be kept securely NHS Scotland and access to them will be tightly controlled and closely monitored to safeguard patient confidentiality.

The additional £10 million investment announced by Mr Neil will fund more projects like those in Renfrewshire and Ayrshire which have supported people to stay in their own homes for longer than expected, saw £2.8 million ploughed back into frontline services and reduced emergency admissions to hospital by 70 per cent.

NHS Scotland has made significant progress in moving away from paper records. This has been supported by £770 million investment from the Scottish Government in digital technologies since 2007.

A refreshed eHealth Strategy for the NHS in Scotland will be published later this year.

Notes to editors

The second eHealth Strategy for NHSScotland was published in September 2011. Update on delivery of the strategy is available online.

A National Telehealth and Telecare Delivery Plan for Scotland was published in December 2012.

The 2020 Workforce Vision Everyone Matters was published in June 2013.