Professor George Crooks OBE, the head of Scotland’s Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI), believes the need has never been greater for a radical digital technology-driven modernisation of the nation’s approach to care. 

His revelation came after the organisation was awarded an £8m per year commitment by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) for at least the next 10 years. DHI has also helped attract an additional £30 million in direct and indirect investment from public and private sources into innovation in health and care in Scotland. 

DHI, which is an initiative hosted by the University of Strathclyde marked its 10th anniversary last year, and is now preparing to launch its new 10-year strategy.  

The cornerstone of the strategy lies in empowering individuals to exercise greater control over their health and care needs through the effective utilisation of their data. 

“The only way that can happen is through the appropriate use of digital technologies allied to an understanding of the lived experience of people in Scotland, using our expertise to co-design with them, and tailoring services to meet their personal and local circumstances,” said Prof Crooks.

Central to DHI’s vision is the establishment of a comprehensive data cloud where individuals’ health needs are meticulously recorded and readily accessible. This repository not only facilitates targeted care but also enables predictive interventions, pre-empting emergent health crises before they escalate.

“In more than 40 years working in the NHS in Scotland, my experience is that the majority of investment in technology has always been to benefit the healthcare system or people working within it. The patients were only passive recipients of that, and this needs to change,” he added. 

“It’s only in recent years, and as we look forward, that we have begun to invest in technology focused on the people of Scotland that will enable them to make better health and wellbeing choices. It will enable them to curate their own data and access appropriate services more easily and effectively, and relieve the pressure on frontline services.”

The strategic blueprint outlined by DHI encompasses seven key priorities, ranging from transforming health and social care to fostering a future-ready workforce and advancing Scotland’s contributions to net-zero targets. 

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Key stakeholders, including educational institutions such as the University of Strathclyde and The Glasgow School of Art, have expressed enthusiasm for the continued collaboration with DHI, bringing in a new era of transformative innovation in healthcare.

Duncan Graham, associate principal and executive dean of science from the University of Strathclyde, said: “We’re delighted to continue hosting two of the innovation centres announced for funding in DHI and IBioIC. 

“We look forward to supporting the positive impact for Scotland and beyond offered by both, with DHI spearheading the next generation of citizen-centred healthcare that is set to transform the lives of many.”