Digital and Data Strategy for Health and Social Care in Wales

The Welsh Government’s strategy for digitized healthcare is centered on leveraging digital technology and data to transform health and social care services in Wales, aiming to improve patient outcomes, enhance accessibility, and increase efficiency.

This vision is primarily articulated through the “Digital and Data Strategy for Health and Social Care in Wales” published in July 2023, and is supported by the work of Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW), a special health authority established in April 2021 to lead digital innovation in the sector.

The strategy emphasizes a “digital-first” approach, integrating technology into everyday healthcare delivery to align with modern lifestyles. Key goals include improving service delivery by ensuring clinicians have real-time access to patient information, enhancing communication between healthcare providers and patients, and empowering individuals to manage their own health through digital tools.

A flagship initiative is the development of an NHS Wales App, which allows patients to access services such as booking appointments, viewing health records, and managing prescriptions from their mobile devices. This builds on the success of tools like the Welsh Clinical Portal, which consolidates patient data across health boards, and the Welsh Immunisation System, rapidly deployed during the COVID-19 pandemic to support vaccine rollout.

Collaboration is a cornerstone of the strategy, involving partnerships with the NHS, academic institutions, and Welsh businesses to drive innovation. It prioritizes user-centered design, ensuring services meet the needs of both patients and healthcare professionals, while adhering to national digital and data standards for interoperability and security. The strategy also addresses equity, aiming to bridge the digital divide by supporting digital inclusion initiatives, as some communities still lack adequate connectivity or skills.

Investment in infrastructure underpins these efforts, with ongoing funding to modernize systems, such as the £75 million allocated to digital health projects. The approach embraces emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, genetic innovation, and precision medicine to personalize care and improve safety.

Sustainability is another focus, with plans to reduce reliance on paper-based processes—exemplified by the Welsh Nursing Care Record, which digitizes assessments at the bedside—and to integrate services across primary, secondary, and community care.

Overall, the Welsh Government seeks to create a modern, efficient, and resilient healthcare system that delivers better outcomes for the people of Wales, balancing technological advancement with accessibility and public value.