MyCare.scot national launch has started the journey, destination to be defined

Louise Coupland, Digital Health and Social Care Programme Manager shares her opinions on the national roll out of MyCare.scot.

Last month ‘MyCare.scot’, a new platform led by the Scottish Government and Public Services Delivery Scotland was made available for everyone across Scotland. The long-awaited launch of a Scottish digital service, offering people choice, control and easy access health and social care services- came with a ‘soft’ launch, which was more silent than soft, with the pre-election recess period playing a significant role.

As a devolved responsibility, the Scottish digital platform for health and social care was a previous manifesto commitment and already three years behind Wales and seven behind the well-established NHS England app so the launch deadline was non-negotiable. This has meant the initial functionality of MyCare.scot is limited, falling short of many people’s expectation.

The ALLIANCE’s Digital Team have been involved in many working groups, some stretching back years so I am hopeful that with clear messaging and expectation management, it could be the foundation to what will be a transformational digital service for Scotland. The focus being on not what the digital service is now, but what it could be given time, investment and development- a catalyst to changing how we provide, utilise and access health and social care information and services.

To date the public has limited awareness of MyCare.scot and for me, if it wants to meet expectation and be fit for purpose in Scotland it must do/have the following:

• Embed our Digital Health and Social Care Human Rights Principles into its design and practice- designed by people for people, it needs to deliver ‘quality’ upheld with accountability and there must be a non-digital equivalent service available
• Long term investment and ongoing commitment to address digital inclusion- tailored, local support to ensure people have the skills, confidence, means and space/environment to successfully (be supported) to access MyCare.scot.
• Be transparent and clear- people who are disappointed with its current functionality need to know the development plans and how people can be supported in this journey.
• A strong commitment to the future version having a robust social work/social care functionality.
• Hold a shared vision for person held digital health and social care records

The ALLIANCE Digital Citizen Panel has a dedicated working group who have/are meeting regularly with the MyCare.scot user design team. This ensures there is an ambition for people with lived experience to help shape and influence the development of MyCare.scot- let’s hope the investment allows this to transpire and flourish.

We have an online Digital Learning Series Event ‘MyCare.scot: Building Capability, Readiness and Potential’ on Tuesday 12 May at 10.30am for ALLIANCE organisational members for those wishing for an opportunity to learn and pose questions directly to those involved in MyCare.scot.

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