Agenda item

Mayur Vibhuti, Chief Clinical Information Officer ICB, Vivek Singh, Chief Technology Officer ICB and Ivor Duffy, Chief Financial Officer ICB were in attendance for this item.

1.    Mayur Vibhuti (Chief Clinical Information Officer ICB) confirmed that there were no updates to the report, so the Chair invited questions from the committee. These included:

a.    A Member asked about the role of technology in triaging patients, giving the example of SECAmb not being able to access patient data. Vivek Singh, Chief Technology Officer ICB, explained that the ICB was looking to build upon the data platform that was already in use (the Kent and Medway Care Record). The NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP) was also being adopted in partnership with provider trusts. A data Strategy had been published which brought the various strands together in a single document.

b.    A Member asked about the benefits of digitalisation for those who struggle with technology and whether conversations had taken place about selling data to the private sector. Dr Vibhuti reported that the ICB wanted to enable individuals to access digital platforms but recognised there would always be those that needed access to the traditional contact methods. Mr Singh assured the Committee that no conversations had taken place regarding the selling of data to private companies, however there had been discussions of sharing data with research companies.

c.     A Member questioned the time being taken to introduce the Kent and Medway Care Record (KMCR). Dr Vibhuti shared that the goal of the KMCR was to have a shared care record for use by clinicians across Kent and Medway. Currently, the KMCR allowed local clinicians access to significant medical issues, but this would be added to over time, eventually including test results such as pathology and radiology. The ICB were looking into working with the OneLondon data platform to create a wider shared data record.

d.    A Member questioned whether there were safeguards in place for those who had concerns about the use of AI. Dr Vibhuti shared that the shift to digitalisation was necessary not only to create capacity in the system but to truly become an integrated system. Ivor Duffy, Chief Financial Officer ICB, reported that there was training available to support patients become more digitally enabled, but he recognised there would always be individuals that needed additional support.

e.    A Member raised the issue of initial access to primary care services online. Dr Vibhuti shared that workforce training was in place for digital upskilling. There was a digital champions network, a peer ambassadors' group, as well as lunch and learn lessons from IT companies. Access had been recognised as an issue, and the Primary Care Strategy needed to work alongside digitalisation. There was a place for automated technology to increase efficiency but there must be an evolutionary and balanced approach.

f.      Digital champions from the NHS and KCC were co-ordinating work so that together they had a much bigger impact. The social prescribing platform had also been co-procured between the partners to improve integration and ensure better outcomes for people. Mr Duffy spoke about the importance of integrated working between the NHS and KCC, to ensure improved outcomes and prevent people’s health from deteriorating. Population health management allowed resources to be targeted at those areas and groups most in need.

g.    A Member noted the importance of changing society’s attitudes to appointments, recognising that help and support may be given from a professional other than a GP. Mr Duffy provided assurance that this work was underway.

h.    A Member asked what evaluation had been carried out into digitalisation. Dr Vibhuti explained that there were frameworks of accredited technical solutions, and the ICB were ensuring methods met the relevant standards before being procured. Mr Singh added that a risk-based approach was taken for those services procured off framework.

i.      Members asked about the identification of digitally excluded individuals and those with poor internet access. Mr Singh explained they used population health data to differentiate between cohorts of individuals and this data was used to inform the ICB’s decision making.

j.       A Member asked if financial incentives were provided to GP practices to encourage them to be more customer focused. Mr Duffy referred to GP practices that were more digitally enabled, explaining that their processes tended to be more efficient which freed up capacity and gave the workforce a better quality of life. Digital champions provided a way of sharing those skills and benefits. Dr Vibhuti added that there was a commitment from the ICB to redirect funding from acute trusts into primary care for this work. The use of data would allow the ICB to target those areas where outcomes needed to improve.

k.     A Member asked what mechanisms were in place to mitigate the impact of technology failures. Mr Singh explained Business Continuity Plans covered such occurrences, as well as risk registers and incorporating solutions at the planning stage.

2.    The Chair thanked the guests and requested they return with an update at the appropriate time.

3.    RESOLVED that the Committee consider and note the report.