Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to provide patients with (a) equitable access to technology to support their care and (b) greater agency in decision making concerning their care.

Supporting patients’ equitable access to innovative technologies and empowered decision-making in care are key priorities for the Department and NHS England (NHSE).

The Department’s Plan for Digital and Social Care details significant steps to promote the uptake of new technologies, particularly digital products, and improve access, experience and outcomes for all. The Department and NHSE further strive to mitigate against risks of digital exclusion through Integrated Care Boards’ work and the upcoming framework for National Health Service (NHS) action on digital inclusion by May 2023.

Enhancing access to and uptake of emerging transformative technologies, especially digital ones, also aims to help patients gain greater control over their care by making informed choices that address their strengths, needs and preferences, as envisioned by the NHS Long Term Plan and its new service model for the NHS centred around personalised care.