Exciting Announcement: NHS England confirms primary care inclusion in 2024 Digital Maturity Assessment
NHS England has officially confirmed that the upcoming 2024 Digital Maturity Assessment (DMA) survey will now include primary care for the first time. This expansion marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts to assess and enhance digital capabilities across various healthcare settings in England.
The DMA survey was initially launched in 2023 to help NHS trusts and integrated care systems evaluate their level of digital maturity. In the previous year, the survey focused on acute, ambulance, community, and mental health settings. However, this year’s survey will provide a more comprehensive overview by incorporating primary care into the assessment.
A spokesperson from NHS England stated that the inclusion of primary care in the DMA will offer a more thorough understanding of digital services within local healthcare settings. This expansion is expected to contribute to the overall improvement of digital services within the NHS.
The 2024 DMA survey has been distributed to integrated care boards (ICBs) and final submissions are scheduled for June. The results will play a crucial role in decision-making processes related to digital investments and service enhancements.
Experts in the field of healthcare IT, such as Lee Rickles from Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust and Dr. Paul Jones from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, have expressed their support for the inclusion of primary care in the DMA. They believe that a comprehensive assessment of digital capabilities will lead to better planning, investment, and sharing of best practices across the NHS.
Looking ahead, there are discussions about potentially adding social care to future iterations of the DMA to provide a more holistic view of digital maturity within healthcare systems. Despite the challenges associated with assessing diverse healthcare settings, the inclusion of primary care in the DMA is a step in the right direction towards achieving digital excellence in healthcare.
Stay tuned for the release of the DMA results, which will shed light on the digital maturity across various healthcare settings in England.
