NHS Education for Scotland collaborates for future workforce development

NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) have formed a strategic partnership which will help build a capable workforce through sharing knowledge, expertise and resources.

The collaborative work programme between the two organisations will focus on a number of strategic areas:

• Workforce development, education and training
• Research development and innovation
• Strategic level engagement with other organisations
• Developing and deploying innovative technologies
• Delivery of health and social care in remote and rural areas

Working together, NHS Education for Scotland and the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre will maximise the strengths of each organisation and work to achieve NES’s vision of supporting better rights-based quality care and outcomes for every person in Scotland. This would be achieved through the building of a skilled, capable and resilient health and social care workforce for the future.

Innovation and the use of digital technologies will be key to the collaboration.

NHS Education Scotland chief executive, Professor Karen Reid, said: “We know that to be successful in achieving our ambition, we must embrace new ways of working, including innovation and advances in technology to enhance our impact across communities and the health and social care workforce.

“We’re delighted to be working with DHI, whose experience and expertise in digital innovation enhances our own leadership and creativity in designing and delivering education and training and using technology. Our collaboration will help us achieve our ambition that staff have the right skills, confidence and motivation to provide better outcomes for the people of Scotland.”

The two organisations’ work will also support the delivery of Scottish Government’s policy priorities to achieve a more skilled and knowledgeable workforce. The partnership will be supported by a governance framework.

Professor George Crooks, chief executive, Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre, said: “This strategic partnership between NES and DHI recognises the important role that digital technologies can have in the delivery of safe, effective and sustainable health and care services into the future.

“Creating a fertile environment where staff feel supported and empowered to utilise next generation digital tools and services to benefit patients, service users and their families while assisting them in their day-to-day activities can only be a good thing.”