techUK’s response to Joining up care for people, places and populations white paper
The ‘Integration white paper’, published February 2022, set out the Government’s approach to integrating health and social care, an ambition set out by Secretary of State last September, when he outlined that the Government would be looking to work with citizens and stakeholders to produce a “comprehensive national strategy” to take integration between health and social care “to a new level”.
The white paper contains ambitious and welcome aims in several areas, including:
- Unlocking the power of data, involving each ICS implementing a population health platform by 2025, and putting in place systems to combine data between health and care to provide a real-time picture of NHS care.
- Social care, with the ambition that shared care records be in place by 2024, the adoption of digital social care records, and a new suite of standards for adult social care.
- Integrated Care Systems, involving the creation of a single role accountable for shared outcomes in each place, the need for digital investment plans, mandatory reporting of outcomes and a third board set to focus on services at ‘place’ level.
- Funding and procurement, involving the alignment and pooling of budgets, Government powers to intervene and encourage disruption, and purchasing digital investment at an ICS-level.
techUK welcomed the aspirations set out in the white paper, which recognised that digital technology has the potential to alleviate pressures, support staff, and help tackle the COVID-19 backlog. However, in responding to the questions regarding Chapter 4 on Digital and Data, techUK highlighted some of the challenges that must be urgently addressed to meet the ambitious timelines set out by Government.
Firstly, industry would like to see further clarity around timelines for delivery and expectations from suppliers, particularly with regards to population health management systems, shared care records, digitising social care, and the financial and decision-making remit of local authorities.
Secondly, one of the biggest challenges that remains is around the lack of interoperability in health and social care. techUK would therefore welcome an emphasis on the actions needed to achieve wholescale integration of systems within and between both sectors. Place-led transformation and innovation is only possible if systems talk to each other, and local services have the confidence and frameworks to share data securely and effectively. techUK would like to see the White Paper go further in its provisions for enabling data sharing between health and social care.
Further to these concerns, techUK highlighted fears that the current approach of the Digital Technology Assessment Criteria (DTAC) will stifle innovation. This is owing to the ‘one size fits all’ approach that fails to account for the wide variance in products and services in this space.
We look forward to seeing how the Government responds to and incorporates industry feedback. In the meantime, techUK are working to gather member views on an upcoming publication looking at recommendations to Integrated Care Systems. If you would like to be involved, please email [email protected], or get involved in our Interoperability Working Group and Social Care Working Group.
Robert Walker
Robert Walker
Robert joined techUK in October 2022, where he is now Programme Manager for Health and Social Care.
Robert previously worked at the Pension Protection Fund, within the policy and public affairs team. Prior to this, he worked at the Scottish Parliament, advising politicians and industry stakeholders on a wide range of issues, including rural crime and health policies.
Robert has a degree in Politics and International Relations (MA Hons) from the University of Aberdeen, with a particular focus on strategic studies and energy security. Outside of work he enjoys activities such as running, rugby, boxing and cooking!
- Email:
- [email protected]
Viola Pastorino
Viola Pastorino
Viola Pastorino is a policy, governance, and strategic communication specialist.
She joined techUK as the Junior Programme Manager in the Health and Care Team in April 2024.
She has obtained a Bachelor of Sciences in Governance, Economics, and Development from Leiden University, and a Master's programme in Strategic Communications at King's College London. Her academic background, leading up to a dissertation on AI policy influence and hands-on campaign development, is complemented by practical experience in international PR and grassroots project management.
She is skilled in qualitative and quantitative analysis and comfortable communicating findings to varying stakeholders. Above all, she is deeply passionate about the intersection of technology and government, especially how technology and global discourse shape one another, the processes that lead to belief polarisation and radicalisation of communities, and crafting strategic narratives that steer public discourse.
Outside of work she loves reading, live music light operation, and diving.
Clara Hewitt
Clara Hewitt
Clara joined techUK in October 2023. She brings experience across a range of domestic and global health issues, with particular focus on digital health, HIV/AIDS and climate change and health.
Clara holds an MSc in Global Health and Development (University College London) and a BSc in Psychology (University of Birmingham).
Tracy Modha
Tracy Modha
Tracy supports several areas at techUK, including Cyber Exchange, Cyber Security, Defence, Health and Social Care, Local Public Services, Nations and Regions and National Security.
Tracy joined techUK in March 2022, having worked in the education sector for 19 years, covering administration, research project support, IT support and event/training support. My most outstanding achievement has been running three very successful international conferences and over 300 training courses booked all over the globe!
Tracy has a great interest in tech. Gaming and computing have been a big part of her life, and now electric cars are an exciting look at the future. She has warmed to Alexa, even though it can sometimes be sassy!
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 02073312000
- Twitter:
- @TracyModha,@TracyModha
- Website:
- www.techuk.org,www.techuk.org
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracymodha83,https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracymodha83
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