WIREDGOV

WAG Health & Social Services Minister, Vaughan Gething, has announced plans to transform digital health & care in Wales.

The plans include creating the role of Chief Digital Officer for Health & Care and a new NHS Wales organisation to deliver national digital services, supported by £50m new funding. 

The Chief Digital Officer for Health & Care will define national standards for digital software & services, as part of moving to an open digital architecture, across all digital systems.  The CDO will also advise Welsh Government on digital strategy, lead the digital profession, and be a champion for digital health & care in Wales.

NHS Wales Informatics Services will transition to a new standalone NHS Wales organisation, reflecting the importance of digital & data in modern health & care.  The new organisation will be a Special Health Authority, like the recently established Health Education & Improvement Wales.   It will have an independent chair & board, appointed by Welsh Ministers. 

‘A healthier Wales’, the Welsh Government’s plan for health & care, identifies the development of digital services as key to delivering services fit for the future.  Alongside strengthened leadership and delivery arrangements, A Healthier Wales commits to significantly increased investment in digital.  A £50m Digital Priorities Investment Fund will drive improvements across five themes:

• Transforming digital services for patients and public
• Transforming digital services for professionals
• Investing in data and intelligent information
• Modernising devices and moving to cloud services
• Cyber-security and resilience

The Health Minister has also commissioned 4 strategic reviews of digital health & care in Wales, which will lead to the publication next year of an all Wales Digital Infrastructure Plan, a Digital Workforce Plan, a Commercial Strategy and a Communication Strategy.