NHS Trusts: Electronic Messaging
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS trusts are required or incentivised to prioritise digital communication where appropriate; whether a national digital-first policy exists; and what Government arrangements are in place to encourage consistent adoption across NHS organisations.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
As part of its 10-Year Health Plan, the Government is committed to a digital-first National Health Service that delivers for patients.
The NHS App is the primary digital channel providing patients with a range of NHS services on their smartphone or tablet whilst NHS Notify is the centralised, digital-first messaging service that is being adopted across the NHS. This enables trusts and providers in England to communicate with patients and the public using both digital and non-digital formats, as appropriate.
The 10-Year Health Plan introduces a new operating model to incentivise adoption of digital services including earned autonomy, a failure regime for persistent underperformance, published provider league tables, and an expectation that all hospitals will be "fully AI-enabled" within the plan's lifetime.
Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →