Tag: digital innovation

Harnessing data and technology to revolutionise public services

First Minister: “Scotland ready for new phase of digital innovation”

Scotland is taking a major step towards becoming a digital-first nation with plans to join public services together through a digital platform, First Minister John Swinney has said.

The Scottish Government is building technical infrastructure to lay the groundwork for innovations to connect people and public services.

This foundation will support the launch of a new app in 2026 to help people access personalised public services more easily. The app will initially provide alerts on weather and travel disruption, followed by digital proof of age, with further functionality expanded over time.

This announcement follows the publication of the updated National Digital Strategy earlier this week, which aims to deliver sustainable public services and create better opportunities for the people of Scotland.

First Minister John Swinney said: “Digital technology is already growing our economy and transforming lives for the better. Scotland is ready to enter a new phase of digital innovation and become a digital-first nation.

“While the corporate world has led the way in making our lives easier through digital technology, my ambition is for digital delivery in the public sector to match the very best of the private sector, in a way that is inclusive for all.

“Innovation will help make public services more efficient, resilient and accessible – while ensuring privacy and security.

“From harnessing data-sharing to help tackle child poverty, to using innovation to support health diagnoses, the potential of technology to improve services and benefit lives stretches across all areas of the public sector. Building this technical foundation will help us develop new ways to grow the economy, end child poverty, improve public services and tackle the climate emergency.”

The Scottish Government is working with tech consultancy Netcompany on this project. Thomas Rysgaard Christiansen, Partner at Netcompany said: “By building the new digital communication infrastructure on our AMI platform, Scotland will benefit from proven technology and domain expertise already applied across Europe.

“Based on re-useable components tailored to local needs, the platform ensures both speed and security in delivery. This approach accelerates Scotland’s digital journey and demonstrates both the scalability and adaptability of our solution to meet varying country-specific needs.

“This is a significant opportunity to help nations digitalise their critical infrastructure and create real value for citizens.” 

Roadmap to Scotland’s digital future – gov.scot

‘Introduction of NHS Scotland app must inspire charge to further digital innovation across the country’

NHS Scotland’s new ‘Digital Front Door’ app must inspire the charge to further interconnected innovation, a formal health service partner insists.

NHS Lanarkshire has been chosen to pilot the platform which is aimed primarily at giving patients more access to, and control over, their own care, as well as the ability to interact with a range of different services, while cutting waiting times across Scotland.

First Minister John Swinney recently pledged to fully launch the National Digital Front Door – which will include access to health and social care data – later this year.

Outlining government plans for NHS renewal, he called the app “a much-needed addition to improve patients’ interaction with the NHS”.

He added: “Over time, it will become an ever more central, ever more important access and managing point for care in Scotland.”

Formal NHS Scotland partner InnoScot Health believes that a digital first approach to care is exactly what is required for a modern, interactive health service which empowers patients while reducing the need for travel and in-person appointments – with vast potential to go further.

Executive Chair Graham Watson said: “The Digital Front Door app is set to be a very welcome addition and is a natural step towards patient-centred empowerment that reduces health service pressures.

“It can also be a springboard to so much more, acting as a central tenet of NHS Scotland’s digital innovation ambitions, helping to inspire fresh, interlinked workforce-led ideas which aim for greater efficiency, better use of resource, and improved patient outcomes.

“I believe the potential is huge with the Digital Front Door complementing the integration of a wide spectrum of new technologies across NHS Scotland– from artificial intelligence to telemedicine advances, virtual reality and robotics.”

The app announcement formed part of the First Minister’s speech on the overall renewal of the NHS, including assurances that increased use of digital solutions and technology would improve capacity, and delivery for health and social care services.

Mr Watson insists that the Digital Front Door can be immediately transformative for Scotland’s patients. “The app holds the promise of much-needed support in areas such as digital dermatology, mental health, and the management of long-term conditions, to name just a few examples of how it can work flexibly around daily demands,” he said.

“I am in no doubt that the ability for people to access their health information online and manage their data, alongside options for interacting with services, and receiving notifications will be life-changing for the people of Scotland.

“The NHS Lanarkshire pilot is a very positive development prior to wider rollout for an ambitious, digital first health service.”

Professor Jann Gardner, former NHS Lanarkshire Chief Executive, welcomed the opportunity to trial the app. She said: “This launch is an exciting step forward, broadening patient access to care and giving people greater control over their healthcare journey.”

The NHS Scotland Event to be held on 9 June in Glasgow will explore work being taken forward on ‘Delivering a stronger digital first approach to all our health and social care services – improving access to services through innovation and technology’.

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