Shaping the future of digital technology in health and social care

Key messages

• The potential of digital technology to transform the health and social care system has still not been realised, though the Covid-19 pandemic has caused a rapid shift towards the remote delivery of care through online technologies.
• digital technology adoption in health and social care is shaped by funding, infrastructure and organisational culture
• digital exclusion remains a significant risk where support and alternative access routes are limited
• user-centred design is essential to ensure technology meets real needs
• data sharing challenges constrain the effective use of digital tools
• leadership and strategic direction strongly influence digital progress.

Policy implications

• investment in digital infrastructure and workforce skills is required to support adoption including changes in how new tools are evaluated and supported during implementation
• user-centred and inclusive design should be embedded across digital programmes
• clearer leadership and system-wide direction can reduce fragmentation
• addressing digital exclusion should be a core consideration in digital strategy.

Gaps

• evidence largely reflects the pre-Covid context
• limited empirical evaluation of outcomes linked to specific technologies
• uncertainty about how recommendations have been implemented across systems.
• More evidence is needed on a range of factors, including the cost-effectiveness of such tools, the groups best suited to using these interventions, the effects of digital inequalities on access, and the impact of tools that use digital technologies on outcomes.

Commentary
This review provides a system-level view of why digital transformation in health and social care often falls short of its potential. Rather than focusing solely on technology, it highlights the importance of leadership, culture and investment in shaping how digital tools are adopted.

Barriers such as inconsistent strategic direction, digital skills gaps and weak data infrastructure are shown to limit progress. These constraints mean that even well-designed technologies may fail to deliver benefits in practice.

The review also draws attention to the consequences of neglecting inclusion. Without adequate support, digital change can exacerbate existing disparities, particularly for people with limited access, skills or confidence.

Overall, the report reinforces that effective use of technology in care depends on system readiness as much as innovation. Aligning leadership, funding and user-centred design is critical if digital technologies are to improve care without widening inequities.