Health Secretary Outlines ‘Mission Critical’ Areas For Digital Health Technology

We know that Matt Hancock is a passionate advocate of technology enabled care. His tech plan, published in 2018, outlined aims for the use of digital technology in health and social care, including the removal of outdated and obstructive NHS IT systems and promotion of “open standards, secure identity and interoperability”.

So it was interesting to learn about what he regards as his key visions for the power of digital technology in the NHS. Speaking at the recent Digital Health Rewired Virtual Festival, he outlined these five areas which he sees as being mission critical:

1. Digitise the areas of the NHS which are not already digitally proficient, allowing everyone to be able to take advantage of digital technology
2. Connecting the system to ensure data flows smoothly and easily. This includes pulling together data previously held in silos and streamlining the use of data and user experience with data in the NHS
3. Technology must be used to transform how care is given, rather than just modernise old, analogue systems. Digital technology cannot be allowed to just be a ‘nice to have’ or ‘bolt-on’ solution
4. We must build for the future; not just provide solutions for the problems we face now
5. Give people the power and opportunity to drive digital change where they work

He observed: “We must learn from the pandemic. We must learn from the challenges and the successes, with the belief in the power of technology to change people’s healthcare now commonplace across the NHS.”