Summary
The Digital First programme is a strategy that has been brought in by NHS England to improve the usage of online services across primary care estate. The ICB broke down the strategy into twelve different ‘core digital requirements’ e.g., online consultation usage, online appointment booking across GP practices and PCN’s. In addition to this the CCG also included the usage of digital tools in long term conditions. We were commissioned to do a gap analysis report with recommended schemes to improve and develop digital initiatives for the requirements.
Aims/Objectives
-Capture the currents state of the primary care estate including practices and PCN’s.
-Develop future state looking at what can be achieved in the next 2 - 5 years.
-Analysis of the gaps between the current state and the future state.
-Development of recommended schemes to achieve the future state.
What did we do?
In order to capture the current state, we agreed the scope and built a map of organisations and stakeholders in the area, we then engaged collecting and documenting as much information against the requirements.The future state was developed and documented using best practice from other areas, white and research papers, and subject matter experts.
Once the information had been captured several workshops to agree the future state were undertaken.Now that both the current and future state had been documented a gap analysis was done using tools such as SWOT (Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats).The gap analysis was assessed and documented, the assessment process included breaking down the information into recommended schemes which including deliverables, expected benefits and costs.Develop and collaborate all the above into an easy to read and process report for different stakeholders to digest and act on.
What was the context / background?
NHS England have developed the following vision “Digital technology is transforming how patients and health professionals interact. As a result, NHS England is supporting primary care to move towards a digital first approach, where patients can easily access the advice, support and treatment they need using digital and online tools. These tools need to be integrated to provide a streamlined experience for patients, and quickly and easily direct them to the right digital or in-person service”. The digital first programme is the mechanism for delivering the above vision.
How was it organised and who was involved?
We worked with GP Practices, a ICB Leads, CSU GP Leads and Software Suppliers.Whilst we were able to run some face-to-face workshops, due to the pandemic much of the engagement work had to happen remotely which we were able to facilitate through online tools.Suppliers were happy to provide demos and share links and further information.CSU leads were happy to co-ordinate and chase where necessaryICB lead contributed to strategic discussions and provided insight into opportunities the report would be a key tool for.Delivery to ICB programme boards and leads
What resources did you need?
Online Survey Tools
Digital First Framework
MS TeamsInformation Dashboards, Excel, Power BIStaff engagement
Supplier engagement, demos, completion of metrics, clinical systems
NHS Digital publications & wider papers
Benefits?
Usable report to inform future investment
Understanding of awareness raising of types of digital tools
Strategic Insight
Local Insight
Suite of tools that can be utilised in the future to support the utilisation, monitoring and adoption
Cost efficiencies for working at scale
New ways of working using digital tools at the forefront to increase efficiencies