The Global Digital Exemplar programme was born out of the recognised need for digital transformation to be undertaken by the UK’s heath system to ensure its future sustainability and maintain its ability to deliver high standards of care. The benefits of achieving digital maturity and moving to a digitised environment are clearly evident and include:

• Better collation of  patient data and an easier means of keeping that data accurate and up to date in ‘real time’
• Improved access to data for both clinician and patient
• Greater efficiencies, enabling clinicians to work more effectively, generating a better patient experience and improved outcomes

As a GDE or Fast Follower you are a leader in the transformation of the NHS; you will have access to cutting edge technologies and will set the standards for digitisation of NHS data and systems. You will be instrumental in creating proven models of transformation and best practice and in creating a blueprint for their roll out across the NHS.

However, a process of transformation is rarely an uneventful journey. Doing something differently and for the first time often brings unexpected or new challenges. We have produced this briefing to assist you in understanding what some of those challenges may be and how you might approach them.

If you would like further information or support from our team of leading healthcare lawyers, then please contact Jamie Foster or Alex Jacques.

Managing the innovation process

Innovation is an integral part of any quest for digital maturity and technology underpins most innovative projects. Moving data and services from an offline, paper based environment online necessitates a new way of thinking, new processes and procedures and often new methodologies and technologies to facilitate the transformation.

This article explores a number of key questions that trusts should consider when managing the innovation process.

Read more about managing the innovation process

GDE and procuring technology

In an article in digitalhealth in July 2017, Matthew Swindells, NHS England’s national director for operations and information, was reported as stating at a conference that:

“At the core of the GDE model is the idea that we should be learning from each other. If the GDE and fast follower model goes well in the future, nobody will run procurements to buy IT systems again”.

Can it really be that easy? We set out the requirements of the current procurement legislation and details how trusts can meet them in the light of the GDE and fast follower programme.

Read more about GDE and procuring technology

Global Digital Exemplars and data protection

GDEs or Fast Followers will undoubtedly be looking to digitise data which has previously been not held in electronic form. They may also be migrating electronic records to new systems or joining up or sharing data sets for the first time.

All of these activities ring alarm bells for the Information Governance specialists whose immediate concern will be – can this be done within the law?

Partner Chris Alderson explores how the advent of the GDPR and NHS information governance rules will affect digital transformation projects.

Read more about Global Digital Exemplars and data protection

Getting staff to adopt new ways of working

With the need to change and reconfigure the existing NHS workforce to meet the demands of new service models comes the need to ensure that the workforce are familiar with and are utilising new technology.  A digitally fluent workforce is a necessity.

Partner Andrew Davidson anticipates the impact of technological change on recruitment in the future.

Read more about getting staff to adopt new ways of working