2 Policy for digital health and social care
The use of digital health and social care technologies are part of health and social care strategy, both across the United Kingdom and the rest of the world. Figure 3 illustrates some of the different digital health and social care policy and strategy across the UK. Click on the different UK countries to see further information.
Activity 2 Learning about digital health and social care strategy in the UK
In this activity, you will explore digital health policy and how local health and social care sectors are applying this.
- Search online for digital health policy or strategy documents that apply to your geographic location. If you’re not based in the UK, explore one of the UK nations which interests you.
- Choose one of these documents and read the introduction.
- Fill in the table below.
Where you are prompted to provide a full reference of the document you have found, use the title and URL / web address. Identify what kind of resource it is (e.g. if it’s a report, you need to go to the ‘report’ section of this guide and so on).
| Title and full reference of document | |
|---|---|
| How is digital health technology defined or explained? | |
| Why is it being used? | |
| Provide at least one example of a digital health technology being proposed. |
Discussion
You might have used a number of different documents in this activity; these might have been local social care policy, documents relating to the NHS or a national strategy document. Here is an example of a completed table:
| Title and full reference of document | Title: Informed Health and Care, A Digital Health and Social Care Strategy for Wales Welsh Government (2015) Informed Health and Care, A Digital Health and Social Care Strategy for Wales. [Available Online] https://gweddill.gov.wales/docs/dhss/publications/151215reporten.pdf (Accessed 12 August 2019) |
|---|---|
| How is digital health technology defined or explained? | It is described as digital technology and includes interactive, personalised services such as electronic records, the internet and dedicated web services. |
| Why is it being used? |
|
| Provide at least one example of a digital health technology being proposed. | Dedicated web service that allows ordering of test, creating and viewing documents and accurate maintenance of records. |