Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has worked alongside NHS Digital’s technology standards to launch his technology vision for the UK’s health service.

This vision outlines plans to overhaul the NHS IT systems, introducing minimum technical standards for all systems and enabling appropriate access to real-time data. The standards will address how NHS IT systems talk to each other and allow for digital services to be built that cross organisational boundaries, while keeping data secure.

“The tech revolution is coming to the NHS. These robust standards will ensure that every part of the NHS can use the best technology to improve patient safety, reduce delays and speed up appointments,” said Hancock.

“A modern technical architecture for the health and care service has huge potential to deliver better services and to unlock our innovations. We want this approach to empower the country’s best innovators — inside and outside the NHS — and we want to hear from staff, experts and suppliers to ensure our standards will deliver the most advanced health and care service in the world.”

The government is consulting with staff, technology experts, and suppliers to ensure that the standards set out are the best choices for everyone and improve all areas of the NHS.

“Investing in excellent digital systems means patients can access the best and safest treatment pathways available, as swiftly as possible at the best value for taxpayers,” said Simon Eccles, chief clinical information officer for health and care at NHS England.

“This, combined with our plan to use technology to improve existing treatments and join up information across the NHS, will set the health service in England on track to be the world-leader in innovative health care.”