Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will extend the NHS’ post-hospital discharge digital bag project to other areas in England beyond Lancashire and South Cumbria.

The Digital Discharge Bag project is currently being supported by the Department through the local Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs). The AHSNs integrate the work of academia, industry and the National Health Service to accelerate the development, adoption and spread of innovative ideas and technologies across the system. If the product proves its clinical and cost effectiveness, we would expect to see it widely adopted across the system - in line with the Accelerated Access Collaborative’s aim to make the best treatments and technologies available to patients regardless of where they live.