Contractor appointed for Lanarkshire healthcare app pilot
A contract has been awarded for development of the 'digital front door' healthcare app which is to be piloted in the NHS Lanarkshire area.
Business technology consultancy BJSS, part of IT and consulting services firm CGI, is working with NHS Education for Scotland (NES) to develop the service – described as 'an online gateway for patients' to access various medical specialties from any device.
It was announced in January that Lanarkshire had been chosen to pilot the new app as part of the Scottish Government's plans for health service renewal.
Parent company CGI says the first phase of the rollout will give 'straightforward online access to personalised health and care information across primary, secondary and social care, community mental health, screening and vaccinations'; and that following the Lanarkshire launch, dermatology outpatients will also be able to track their care and treatment progress online.
Feedback will then be gathered after the platform's initial use by Lanarkshire residents, with the insights gained being used to inform a wider national launch across other health and care organisations, for which plans are to be published later in the summer.
Health secretary Neil Gray, the Airdrie & Shotts MSP, said: 'The digital front door will be a significant digital development in health and social care in Scotland and represents a major investment in reshaping how people interact with data and services.
'We have reiterated our commitment to delivering digital service options in our programme for government, recognising the potential for empowering people, improving access and delivering capacity for our staff and our services.
'In line with industry good practice, the new service will be tested and established in one area before being developed and rolled out across Scotland. Along with NES and CGI we are working closely with other organisations and will publish a national roll-out plan later in the summer.'
CGI senior vice-president Lindsay McGranaghan said: 'We're proud to be working with NES and NHS Lanarkshire to deliver the digital front door, an important step towards more inclusive, person-centred care.
'This is a bold example of digital innovation supporting better access, empowering people, and easing pressure on services, and we're excited to help bring it to more communities across Scotland.'
First minister John Swinney says the app will be 'a much-needed addition to improve patients' interaction with the NHS', adding: 'Over time, it will become an ever more central, ever more important access and managing point for care in Scotland.
NHS Lanarkshire say the health board is 'delighted to be at the forefront of delivering the national digital front door app' and say: 'Beginning the rollout here in Lanarkshire demonstrates our commitment to embracing technology for more efficient, effective services.'
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