United Lincolnshire Hospitals (ULH) NHS Trust is one of 32 NHS organisations to receive funding in the second part of the Digital Aspirants programme, as part of its transformation journey.
ULH has received £250,000 to develop the trust’s digital strategy and business case, to deliver an electronic health record – which will transform how it works to provide high quality patient care.
During the pandemic, health and care organisations used digital technology to support the delivery of safe, high quality care. In Lincolnshire this included the use of video and telephone consultations where appropriate, which meant patients didn’t have to travel.
Director of Finance and Digital at the trust, Paul Matthew, said: “We have learnt so much during the Covid-19 pandemic, and this has resulted in a lot of digital transformation already taking place across the trust. By being part of the Digital Aspirants programme, it will enable us to do even more.”
Plans and funding are already in place around introducing electronic health records and electronic medicines management systems across the trust, which will help improve the patient experience and safety.
Matthew Gould, Chief Executive of NHSX, said: “We want to see all parts of the NHS join the digital transformation journey. Digitising frontline services is at the heart of NHSX and it is the bedrock upon which we are continuing to build the capability to deliver healthcare that is safe, efficient and fit for today’s needs.”
Health Secretary, Matt Hancock pledged the funding for the Digital Aspirants programme, which launched last February. According to NHSX wave two seed funding trusts will receive £250,000 each to develop their digital strategy and business case, and wave two fully funded trusts will receive up to £6m each over the next three years.
Mr Hancock said: “It’s very important this is across all parts of the NHS and indeed social care, including mental health and community trusts, which can feel the benefits of digital transformation just as much as acute trusts.”
“So, we’ll keep driving this work across the whole of the health and care sector to make sure everyone has the digital capability they need, and lay down those strong foundations, that’ll put us in a good place for the future."
