Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve technology in (a) health and (b) social care sectors in (i) Stoke-on-Trent and (ii) Staffordshire.

Digital innovation can provide increased access to care and is a key enabler to many services across the system. Since early March, there has been a dramatic acceleration in technology transformation in health and social care.

NHSX is moving forward with a national programme of work to improve technology in the health and social care sector. This work is focused on key interventions, including improving digital infrastructure and access to internet connectivity for care providers; supporting information sharing across health and social care services; investing in digital skills development; and helping to scale-up proven technologies, including innovative digital tools and applications. This work will benefit care providers and people receiving social care services across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.