NHS England has announced that three ambulance trusts will share £10 million to help improve patient care by developing into world class digital organisations.
South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS), West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (WMAS) and North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (NEAS) are the first to join the ambulance version of the Global Digital Exemplar (GDE) programme.
The three Trusts will share an investment of £5 million over 2.5 years, which they will be expected to match fund, taking total investment to £10 m as they develop into Global Digital Exemplars.
Selected in part because of a track record of digital delivery, South Central, West Midlands and North East Ambulance Services will be expected to focus on areas including: ensuring clinicians have access to patient records; use of remote diagnostics such as video consultations and ensuring vehicles have wifi access.
Professor Jonathan Benger, national clinical director for urgent and emergency care at NHS England, said: “I am delighted this flagship digital transformation programme has been extended to ambulance trusts which are on the frontline of NHS care.
“Digital technology has the potential to transform ways of working and improve patient care in ambulance trusts, from ensuring paramedics can access a patient’s medical record to improving trust efficiency in systems behind the scenes.”
Will Smart, chief information officer for health and care, added: “We have taken a different approach with the ambulance branch of the GDE programme and are today asking the three successful Trusts to think of ways in which they can work together to drive improvements through the use of digital technology.
“By stepping up to become world class these three Trusts will join the most digitally advanced healthcare organisations across the globe and help deliver a sustainable and transformed NHS.”
South Central, West Midlands and North East Ambulance Services were successful following review by a national panel that included Will Smart, Professor Benger, NHS England and NHS Digital.
The addition of three Trusts onto the Ambulance version of the Global Digital Exemplar programme brings the total investment in the GDE programme up to £280 m (or £560 m if match funding is included).
