NHS Education for Scotland (NES) has published a resource for health and social workers underlining the growing importance of technology-enabled care.  

The resource has been developed to help staff better understand and adopt technologies that can assist in the care process – as well as helping to improve digital skills in the workforce.  

Some emerging technologies, which could help improve patient care, the report notes, include wearable devices, video conferencing and home monitoring systems.  

The publication of this information follows recommendations found in the report, Supporting Scotland’s Workforce, which is available to NHS Scotland staff and local authorities. 

Digital Skills Requirements 

Dorothy Wright, workforce director for NES, said Scotland’s Digital Health and Care Strategy “highlights the importance of digital skills” across the breadth of the health and care sector.  

“It is important that staff have the knowledge and skills to work confidently with technology to support people manage their own health better,” she said.  

In an increasingly connected world, the need for adequate digital skills across a broad range of sectors cannot be understated.

Supporting Scotland’s Workforce underlines a number of key recommendations in order to ensure both the uptake of technology in healthcare and improvements to digital skills in the workforce.

A programme aimed at raising national awareness and the promotion of digital technologies will be integral to future success.

“This should demonstrate the benefits and advantages for the workforce and generate increased knowledge and understanding of using such technologies in everyday work,” the report recommends.

National Skills Drive

Margaret Whoriskey, head of technology-enabled care and digital healthcare innovation at the Scottish Government, said the learning resource was commissioned as part of a”national approach” to workforce learning and skills development.  

“Scotland has an opportunity to digitally empower our workforce so they have the necessary knowledge and skills to embrace digital technologies to enhance their life, work and learning opportunities,” she explained. 

Whoriskey added that supporting a “digitally confident workforce” is essential to ensure strong public services going forward. 

“Supporting a digitally confident workforce, who are able to help citizens take charge of their own health and care, empowering them to live, communicate and self-manage better will help provide an essential foundation for more integrated, effective and efficient public services.”