The Welsh Government has updated its digital and data strategy for health and social care, emphasising the importance of building skills, partnerships and platforms.
Health Minister Eluned Morgan announced the publication, also highlighting an initiative to extend the use of an AI platform in cancer diagnosis.
In a written statement, she said the new version of the strategy sets out expectations to health boards and trusts, together with social care providers, in the use of digital and data to improve the quality care and help people to manage their health.
The document sets out three key aims – to transform digital skills and partnerships, build digital platforms to provide high quality data, and make services ‘digital first – each supported by two missions.
The skills element includes the use of a centre of excellence approach to developing deep expertise in key areas – such as agile user centred design, Microsoft 365, cloud and data insights – providing training to create a ‘digital ready’ workforce and promoting digital literacy among the public.
Record and rules
Plans for digital platforms include further work on a single digital health and social care record for Wales and more standards based rules for access to the record. There will also be an emphasis on using cloud systems where possible, supported by a centre of excellence, along with an IT operations centre, a fuller register of digital infrastructure, a strengthening of cyber security and a possible assessment of organisation’s digital maturity.
The Welsh Government is also considering the delivery of a ‘data promise’ on how data will be used, supported by a specialised unit to raise public awareness, and setting up a centre of excellence for data insights.
The effort to make services digital first will involve the use of agile and user centred design, building a full register of digital services, working closely together with clinical users and networks, and working with partners to drive innovation, particularly in AI and data insights.
Morgan said: “By embracing new technologies we can transform how we interact with the NHS, find new ways to save lives and increase performance across health and social care.
“Innovative and effective use of data driven technology, moving to digital heath care and exploiting new technology is vital if we are to meet the soaring demand and increasing pressures on our NHS.”
Successful AI trial
Alongside the publication the Welsh Government announced that the IBEX Galen AI platform is being tested by six health boards – including Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board in diagnosing breast cancer – following trials analysing prostate biopsies that produced a 13% increase in cancer detection.
It has provided funding for the project through its Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Centre of Excellence, and said it has an ambition to make the technology part of routine prostate cancer testing supporting clinical teams to and assess its use in the diagnosis of additional cancers.
The tool automatically analyses digital images of pathology samples, classifying them through a traffic light system, as having a higher or lower likelihood of cancer, prior to a review by clinicians.
By classifying the images, the most urgent cases are prioritised, and patient outcomes improved through faster diagnosis and potentially having to undergo fewer biopsies and additional testing.
Morgan commented: “The benefits of using AI to help diagnose cancer has exceeded all our expectations and it is fantastic that six Welsh Health Boards are undertaking further trials of this technology.
“The IBEX system has shown real promise and the possibilities of what this type of technology can do and how it could be used in the future across a number of suspected cancers is an exciting prospect.”
