What we’ve been up to

February and March brought a time for celebration in Digital Health and Care, congratulations everyone!

• Digital Lifelines Scotland (DLS)

DLS won the Digital Inclusion Award at Holyrood Connect on 18 February which recognised the project’s significant impact on improving digital access and reducing drug-related harm across Scotland.

• Connect Me and InHealthcare

Announced on 6 March, Inhealthcare and Connect Me team were recognised for their brilliant work on the expansion of the remote monitoring service for blood pressure in primary care. Congratulations to the team on winning the ‘Digital Solution of the Year’ Award at Health Tech Newspaper (HTN) Primary Care Awards 2025.

• Shared Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC)

On 17 March, the Shared ARC Programme, a national initiative led by the Digital Office, won the TSA Conference ITEC ‘Partnership Award’! Co-created with over 65 stakeholders – including local authorities, HSCPs, housing associations, and government bodies – this innovative platform integrates digital devices to enhance personalisation, choice, and control for service users. Read more here: Digital Telecare Playbook.

• Cyber Security

NSS and Systal were nominated for the ‘Public Sector Cyber Impact Award 2025’, as part of the Scottish Cyber Awards on 27 March at the EICC, Edinburgh: Scottish Cyber Awards | Finalists 2025.

The annual Digital Health and Care Conference organised by Holyrood Events took place on 18 and 19 February.

On Day One, the conference opened with a speech and presentation from Rana Shams, Community Development Officer, Networking Key Services (NKS) highlighting the meaningful and significant work her and the NKS team are undertaking to address digital exclusion within ethnic minority communities. They have held group and one-to-one sessions to deliver person-centred and needs based training on digital devices and services.

Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport, Maree Todd, gave the keynote address followed by Cllr Paul Kelly, COSLA’s spokesperson on digital health and care. The speeches were followed by a Q&A session with Ms Todd and Cllr Kelly, along with John Payne, Physician Executive and Transplant Cardiologist, InterSystems and NHS.

That evening, the achievements of individuals and teams working in the health, social care, and housing sectors were recognised at the Digital Health and Care Awards. Many congratulations to the winners and those shortlisted: Winners of Holyrood’s Digital Health and Care Awards revealed.

On Day Two, Alistair Hodgson, Divisional Head of Strategy and Policy, took part in a panel discussion on ‘Creating the Workforce of the Future’. Overall, the themes of the two-day event included AI, reform, DFD and data standards with regards to information sharing.

[John Payne, Cllr Paul Kelly, Ms Maree Todd and host, Pennie Taylor]

Scottish Government and COSLA have published an update on progress in the first year of the data strategy that was published early last year.

Published in February 2023, the Health and Social Care Data Strategy sets out the key elements for ensuring that data is managed and used consistently and securely, to improve the care and wellbeing of people in Scotland. The update sets out progress in the first year and is based on regular discussions with delivery partners and stakeholders, and reiterates the agreed approach in achieving the safe, secure and consistent use of data across Scotland’s health and care systems.

The update was announced by Richard McCallum at the ‘Health and Social Care Transformation’ event hosted by FutureScot in Glasgow on 16 April and a short executive summary and easy read version have also been produced.

More information is available at the Data Strategy for Health and Social Care section.

The annual Digital Health and Care Conference organised by Holyrood Events took place 21 and 22 February with Digital Health and Care Division represented in a range of sessions and discussions.

The conference opened with a video from the ALLIANCE which involved Digital Citizens Panel members and people from the Discovery Grants Programme sharing ‘what good looks like’. You can view the video at YouTube: ‘Good’ in health and social care – exploring what this means for five individuals.

Newly appointed Cabinet Secretary, Neil Gray, gave the keynote address followed by Councillor Paul Kelly, COSLA’s spokesperson on digital health and care. The speeches were followed by a Q&A session with Mr Gray and Councillor Kelly, along with Richard McCallum, Director of Health Finance, Digital and Governance.

In the following sessions, Deputy Director Jonathan Cameron facilitated a discussion on unlocking the value of data to inform services; and Rosie Cooper, National Improvement Lead for Near Me and Hospital at Home participated in a panel discussion on enabling early discharge.

[Pictured left to right: Rami Riman, InterSystems; Cllr Paul Kelly, COSLA; Richard McCallum, Scottish Government; Pennie Taylor, conference chair; Cabinet Secretary Neil Gray.]

Colleagues from Digital Health and Care participated in The ALLIANCE DigiFest satellite event on 11 October 2023 in Glasgow. The event brought together a range of speakers on topics of human rights, equalities and inclusion in the context of digital health and care and AI. Sharing our work on digital inclusion, Dr Tara French presented: ‘From pillars to practice: Prioritising digital inclusion in health and social care’; and colleague Morag Hearty engaged with delegates in ‘Connect Me’ through demonstration and an interactive stall.

Presentations from the day are available on The ALLIANCE resource page: Resources – Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland.

Dr Tara French