Expert Panel to evaluate Government commitments made on the digitisation of the NHS

• Read about the role of the Expert Panel
• Inquiry: Evaluation of Government Commitments made on the digitisation of the NHS

Scope of the inquiry

The Expert Panel will evaluate Government commitments across four areas:

• The care of patients and service users – including the NHS app, personalised digital care and integrated health and care records.
• The health of the population – including making patient data available for research in a safe and trustworthy way and de-identifying data on collection in general practice settings.
• Cost and efficiency of care – including contract methods and procurement.
• Workforce literacy and the digital workforce – including the national digital workforce strategy and growing the digital workforce.

Six specialists have been appointed for this evaluation, bringing their subject specific expertise and experience. They will work alongside the core members of the Expert Panel, and will produce a report evaluating Government progress across nine of the Government’s own commitments across the four areas. A CQC-style rating from “inadequate” to “outstanding” will be awarded against each specific pledge with a final overall rating given.

The findings will support the work of the Health and Social Care Committee which is carrying out a separate inquiry: Digital Transformation of the NHS.

Chair's comment

Professor Dame Jane Dacre, Chair of the Expert Panel, said:

“Digital solutions and technology have an opportunity to deliver faster and more effective care to patients as well as assist health and care workers in their jobs.

“We’ll be looking at commitments the Government has made to digitise the NHS – essential if we are to provide personalised care in a resource-effective way.

“Our panel of experts will evaluate progress made to meet policy pledges in this fast-evolving area – including keeping patient data safe.” 

Membership of the panel 

The core members of the Expert Panel are: Professor Anita Charlesworth; Sir Robert Francis QC; Professor Stephen Peckham; Professor Emma Cave; Sir David Pearson.

For this evaluation, the Committee has appointed six additional members with subject area expertise. They are: 

Professor Maureen Baker CBE, Chair, Professional Record Standards Body

"My reason for joining this group is to help assess the progress on digitalisation of the NHS as this is essential for better, safer and more personalised care for people. As a Panel member, I hope to identify the critical lessons learned from digital transformation over the last 5 years to better improve the success of future initiatives that have the potential to deliver real change in the NHS. Additionally, to help government get better at digital policy formulation and implementation in health and care."

Catherine Davies, Director, Digital Healthcare Council

"I’m delighted to join the panel to represent the members of the Digital Healthcare Council, the go-to voice for digital health and social care. I’m looking forward to analysing how digital health companies partner with the NHS so we can see what’s working well and what needs to work better to ensure patients and service users get the care they need."

Noel Gordon,Former Chair of NHS Digital and Healthcare Uk and former board member NHS England

"Digital transformation of health and care is critical to the long term future of the NHS and to the effectiveness, efficiency, accessibility and quality of the services it provides free at the point of use. Holding government to account for the progress it is making , particularly its delivery track record for major projects and the benefits delivered for patients and workforce is an essential ingredient in the journey towards a ‘learning health system’.

"As a Panel member, I hope to identify the critical lessons learned from digital transformation over the last 5 years to better improve the success of future initiatives that have the potential to deliver real change in the NHS. Additionally, to help government get better at digital policy formulation and implementation in health and care."

Dr Wajid Hussain, Chief Clinical Information Officer, Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals

"I joined the Panel to help with the important work of assessing the governments delivery on their digital commitments. As a Panel member, I hope to show areas we can help the system to improve."

Helen Patterson, Royal College of Physicians Patient and Carer Network

"Being a member of the Royal College of Physicians’ Patient and Carer Network, and as a mother with two grown-up children and helping my elderly parents, I am keen to use my knowledge and experience of health issues as a member of this expert panel. I would like to make a difference for people accessing digital services and help ensure people who are digitally excluded are not forgotten."

Nicola Perrin MBE, Chief Executive Officer, Association of Medical Research Charities

"Digital transformation across the NHS has huge potential to improve patient care and to advance medical research – but that promise has not yet been realised.  This Panel provides the opportunity to look at what has been achieved, and to explore why progress has been slow.   Making better use of data, in a responsible and trustworthy way, is so important for patient benefit."

 

Image credit: PA