November 2023 Newsletter

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIGITAL INFORMATION TO DRIVE CHANGE SHARED AT PLANNING EVENT

More than 220 colleagues from Planning, Workforce and Finance teams across NHS Wales came together last week for the latest Planning Programme for Learning National planning and learning event.

It was the first time Digital Health and Care Wales hosted the event, which takes place twice a year and is hosted by a different NHS Wales organisation each time.

Presentations during the day were centred around the theme of how digital information can support planning and drive change, leading to more sustainable service delivery. This builds on DHCW’s role as a trusted partner for digital and data services across NHS Wales.

Eluned Morgan, the Minister for Health and Social Services, was in attendance along with the Chief Executive of NHS Wales, Judith Paget. The Minister discussed the Welsh Government Digital and data strategy for health and social care in Wales published in July 2023, which will help shape the delivery of care and support through technology and the use of dat

Read more on the DHCW website

FIRST ELECTRONIC PRESCRIPTION SERVICE LAUNCHES IN WALES

Patients in Rhyl are the first in Wales to benefit from a new electronic prescription service (EPS), which allows GPs to send prescriptions securely online to the patient’s choice of community pharmacy, without the need for a paper form.

The new service, officially launched today, makes the prescribing and dispensing of medicines for patients and healthcare professionals easier, safer and more efficient.

The launch of electronic prescriptions in Wales is the result of 20 months of work by the Digital Medicines Transformation Portfolio (DMTP), which has turned Welsh Government’s commitment to digitalise prescriptions into a reality.

Read more on the DHCW website

PHASE ONE OF MENTAL HEALTH DISCOVERY PROJECT COMPLETED

The need for an all-Wales electronic record to help improve mental health planning and provision in Wales has been identified following phase one of a discovery project by DHCW.

The project aims to identify areas where digital, data and technology can add value to mental health services. It follows on from DHCW’s work to develop a national mental health dataset in line with Welsh Government’s Together for Mental Health Strategy.

DHCW worked closely with those delivering mental health services in the Cwm Taf Morgannwg region for phase one of the project. This includes Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, Local Authorities and Primary Care.

Elaine Lorton, Service Director for Mental Health at Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB, said:



“As a health board, CTM has played a key role in this scoping work with DCHW and other partners, and it has given us the opportunity to really help shape future thinking and decision making in this important area of practice.

We know that moving to a safe, better aligned digital system will make a real difference to mental health service users in our communities.”

Read more on the DHCW website