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Designed Engagement uses design methods and skills to transform the way we talk to people in the community. We go to where people are, designing positive and thought-provoking public engagement to stimulate creative dialogue and explore new ways of addressing societal challenges. Involving the public in dialogue around changes to policy and the design of services is a key target for policy makers, however traditional approaches offer little scope for creativity and meaningful engagement. Design brings a wealth of expertise to create engaging experiences, facilitate dialogue, and translate insights into tangible outputs for decision makers. We introduce ‘Designed Engagement’ to denote design-led approaches to public engagement, illustrated through two examples of pop-up Designed Engagement. We discuss advantages, limitations, and implications for design, concluding with the need for further research to evaluate and demonstrate the contribution and value of design in public engagement. < Return to resources Designed Engagement Teal, Gemma and French, Tara Designed Engagement uses design methods and skills to transform the way we talk to people in the community. We go to where people are, designing positive and thought-provoking public engagement to stimulate creative dialogue and explore new ways of addressing societal challenges. Involving the public in dialogue around changes to policy and the design of services is a key target for policy makers, however traditional approaches offer little scope for creativity and meaningful engagement. Design brings a wealth of expertise to create engaging experiences, facilitate dialogue, and translate insights into tangible outputs for decision makers. We introduce ‘Designed Engagement’ to denote design-led approaches to public engagement, illustrated through two examples of pop-up Designed Engagement. We discuss advantages, limitations, and implications for design, concluding with the need for further research to evaluate and demonstrate the contribution and value of design in public engagement. View resource Previous item Next item

Co-Producing a National Framework to Prevent, Detect and Improve Outcomes for Type 2 Diabetes. < Return to projects Type 2 Diabetes Framework Project impact Framework Implementation: NHS Tayside, an early adopter of Scotland's Type 2 Diabetes Framework, uses a design-led approach to drive system-wide changes Innovation Focus: DHI helped identify key opportunities for innovation and improvement in Type 2 diabetes care through mapping, workshops, and patient experiences Adoption Success: Pathways developed by DHI and NHS Tayside have led to the successful adoption of the Oviva service, improving diabetes management Co-Producing a National Framework to Prevent, Detect and Improve Outcomes for Type 2 Diabetes. The Scottish Government is taking action to tackle the growing prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Scotland. 'A Healthier Future - Framework for the Prevention, Early Detection and Early Intervention of Type 2 Diabetes.' was published by the Scottish Government in July 2018. The Framework was developed to provide guidance to delivery partners on the implementation of a specific weight management pathway for those 'at risk' or those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. NHS Tayside is one of three early adopter sites that are leading the way in implementing the framework. Tayside has taken a public health transformation and design-led approach to identify the changes needed to deliver a whole system sustainable change. The DHI Insights Team was engaged to support NHS Tayside in this work and to identify areas for improvement and innovation, through interviews, workshops, and mapping new care pathways for the service. Summary Our aim is to: Identify the national Type 2 Diabetes journey in NHS Tayside Identify opportunities for innovation and improvement of the current national Type 2 Diabetes Framework in NHS Tayside Strive for improvement in the experience for a Type 2 Diabetic service user in NHS Tayside Impact & value The DHI's Insights Team was commissioned by NHS Tayside to help them to co-produce new and improved services by: • Identifying population need including inequalities within current provision in Tayside • Identifying digital approaches to type 2 diabetes diagnosis and management • Mapping current service pathways • Gathering experiences of current services from people living with type 2 diabetes • Highlighting key issues with current service design • Prioritising opportunities for innovation • Identifying key challenges • Developing recommendations for whole system change The pathways visualised in our report have been replicated in the subsequent adoption of the Oviva service. Our collaboration with NHS Tayside continues in the exploration of other clinical areas. Progress to date Next steps Diabetes project hub DHI uniquely drives Diabetes Innovation in Scotland by collaborating with NHS, industry, academia, and individuals with lived experiences to advance innovation and funding opportunities. View hub Partners Project staff Resources Oviva service Previous project Projects index page Next project

This is a selection of projects to celebrate ten years of meaningful co-design at the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI). We have chosen examples of lived experience engagements that informed concepts for innovating health and care across a range of diverse contexts and topics. We are a multi-disciplinary team of Design Researchers and Creative Technologists based at The GSA’s Innovation School in Glasgow and Moray. We work across urban and rural contexts – locally, nationally, and internationally. Our participatory design approach to innovation is person-centred, not technology-driven, focusing on understanding the lived experience of people and their preferred future ways of living and working. Participants with lived experience are supported to share their stories, challenges and ideas using bespoke methods and tools. Through visualisation, collaborative making, prototyping, and simulation we enable new ways of collaborative working and the translation of insights into future health and care products, services, and systems. < Return to resources 10 Years of Meaningful Co-design McIntyre, Don., Teal, Gemma, Bruce, Angela., Raman, Sneha, Bradley, Jay and Cummings, Marissa This is a selection of projects to celebrate ten years of meaningful co-design at the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI). We have chosen examples of lived experience engagements that informed concepts for innovating health and care across a range of diverse contexts and topics. We are a multi-disciplinary team of Design Researchers and Creative Technologists based at The GSA’s Innovation School in Glasgow and Moray. We work across urban and rural contexts – locally, nationally, and internationally. Our participatory design approach to innovation is person-centred, not technology-driven, focusing on understanding the lived experience of people and their preferred future ways of living and working. Participants with lived experience are supported to share their stories, challenges and ideas using bespoke methods and tools. Through visualisation, collaborative making, prototyping, and simulation we enable new ways of collaborative working and the translation of insights into future health and care products, services, and systems. View resource Previous item Next item

This Executive Summary presents findings from the End of Stage Report for the Care Homes Assessment Tool Proof of Concept (CHAT Stage 2), conducted by DHI and Scottish Care. Initiated in response to the escalating effects of the coronavirus pandemic in Scotland in March 2020, CHAT Stage 2 aimed to further develop the digital Care Homes Assessment Tool (CHAT) for Covid-19, building upon positive results from a Stage 1 Test of Change conducted in June 2020. The report shares key learnings, reports to the Scottish Government Digital Health & Care Directorate, and outlines recommendations for next steps. < Return to resources Care Homes Assessment Tool Proof of Concept: Stage 2 Report MacKenzie, M., Lillie, A., Kendall, B., Morrison, C., Welisch, G. & Raman, S. This Executive Summary presents findings from the End of Stage Report for the Care Homes Assessment Tool Proof of Concept (CHAT Stage 2), conducted by DHI and Scottish Care. Initiated in response to the escalating effects of the coronavirus pandemic in Scotland in March 2020, CHAT Stage 2 aimed to further develop the digital Care Homes Assessment Tool (CHAT) for Covid-19, building upon positive results from a Stage 1 Test of Change conducted in June 2020. The report shares key learnings, reports to the Scottish Government Digital Health & Care Directorate, and outlines recommendations for next steps. View resource Previous item Next item

The Digital Hypertension project expanded on initial simulations of uploading blood pressure readings from a Bluetooth cuff to an app. It aimed to develop solutions for a national hypertension service via CPS pharmacies, producing a blueprint with cost modelling, service capacity estimates, and a roadmap for establishing a live service. < Return to projects The Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) Digital Hypertension Project impact Assurance of the business and commercial viability of offering digital services in a community setting Armed CPS with re-usable tools to extend the Digital Hypertension model to other new services The Digital Hypertension project expanded on initial simulations of uploading blood pressure readings from a Bluetooth cuff to an app. It aimed to develop solutions for a national hypertension service via CPS pharmacies, producing a blueprint with cost modelling, service capacity estimates, and a roadmap for establishing a live service. The project was built on early simulation work that demonstrated the technical feasibility of uploading blood pressure readings from a Bluetooth-enabled cuff to a simple app. The Digital Hypertension project aimed to take a significant step forward in demonstrating the technical and service solutions that would support an operational hypertension service that could be offered by CPS pharmacies nationally. While ‘pretrial’ by design, the project outcomes were framed to deliver a blueprint for establishing a live service in due course, including business cost modelling, service capacity estimates, business architecture and model descriptions, and a roadmap. The project was completed and closed by November 2021. Summary Impact & value Progress to date Next steps Partners Project staff Resources Hypertension Digital App Previous project Projects index page Next project

This report reviews digital approaches involving citizens in contact tracing efforts, addressing public health data needs, privacy concerns, technologies, and digital ethics, aiming to inform a consistent approach to digital contact tracing in Scotland, aligning with policy on secure, transparent, participatory, and privacy-respectful data sharing in response to the measures that needed to be put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Expert insights and recommendations cover desirable outcomes, secure and privacy-respectful system architecture, communication standards, and ethical challenges to secure public trust, applicable to broader aspects of digital health in Scotland. < Return to resources Use of Participatory Apps in Contact Tracing: Options and Implications for Public Health, Privacy and Trust Buchanan, W., Imran, M., Pagliari, C., Pell, J. & Rimpiläinen, S. This report reviews digital approaches involving citizens in contact tracing efforts, addressing public health data needs, privacy concerns, technologies, and digital ethics, aiming to inform a consistent approach to digital contact tracing in Scotland, aligning with policy on secure, transparent, participatory, and privacy-respectful data sharing in response to the measures that needed to be put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Expert insights and recommendations cover desirable outcomes, secure and privacy-respectful system architecture, communication standards, and ethical challenges to secure public trust, applicable to broader aspects of digital health in Scotland. View resource Previous item Next item

On 4 June 2025, leading experts, clinicians, policymakers, patient advocates from across NHS Scottish Government, academic , research and Industry gathered for a thought leadership event exploring global collaboration in diabetes innovation, research and system transformation. Hosted by the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) in partnership with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and Lemonmint, the event explored with senior leaders’ opportunities for global collaboration in diabetes innovation, research and system transformation. < Return to resources Transforming Diabetes Care through Innovation: Leveraging Scotland’s Collaborative Ecosystem Thought Leadership Event Summary Report Michelle Brogan & Janette Hughes On 4 June 2025, leading experts, clinicians, policymakers, patient advocates from across NHS Scottish Government, academic , research and Industry gathered for a thought leadership event exploring global collaboration in diabetes innovation, research and system transformation. Hosted by the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) in partnership with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and Lemonmint, the event explored with senior leaders’ opportunities for global collaboration in diabetes innovation, research and system transformation. View resource Previous item Next item

Joanne BoyleHead of Engagement < Return to team Joanne Boyle Head of Engagement Joanne has worked in both health and social care and has operational and strategic expertise across all major care groupings at local and national levels. She qualified originally as an Occupational Therapist but has gone on to work as a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and Coach and is passionate about the human factors in change management. Technology has been an integral part of all of her roles and she believes strongly in its ability to transform people’s lives. Joanne joined DHI in its inception and has proactively supported its continuous development. She is part of the senior management team and is responsible for stakeholder and collaboration management between academic, business and civic partners. Civic partners include health, local authorities and the third sector. Email LinkedIn Related Projects Next team member Previous team page Team page

This document contains microlearning units to explore the various aspects of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the context of SMART Homes. Developed by lecturers involved in the FUTUREquipped project (2018), the learning materials cover topics such as the role of the Internet of Everything, automated medicine alert systems, ethical considerations for programmers, and sensor interfaces in SMART Homes. All materials are accessible to learners under the Creative Commons license. < Return to resources ICT Sector: Learning Materials - FUTUREquipped Project FUTUREquipped Project This document contains microlearning units to explore the various aspects of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the context of SMART Homes. Developed by lecturers involved in the FUTUREquipped project (2018), the learning materials cover topics such as the role of the Internet of Everything, automated medicine alert systems, ethical considerations for programmers, and sensor interfaces in SMART Homes. All materials are accessible to learners under the Creative Commons license. View resource Previous item Next item

Conditions for providing care in healthcare are constantly changing. The demographic of the population is evolving, service institutions are expanding, and our knowledge of both disease and condition management is exponentially rising. Through the last decades, healthcare providers have become more efficient, the patients are spending less time in hospitals, and we have new and better management strategies for diseases. However, the costs for care provision are rising and will continue to rise unless we change fundamentally the way we are providing care. This abstract offers an insight into current research activity exploring the management of chronic pain in Scotland, with discussion of initial findings. < Return to resources Chronic Pain Management: Review of current practice against a standardised systematic approach Hepburn, Leigh-Anne and Jaatun, Ellen Conditions for providing care in healthcare are constantly changing. The demographic of the population is evolving, service institutions are expanding, and our knowledge of both disease and condition management is exponentially rising. Through the last decades, healthcare providers have become more efficient, the patients are spending less time in hospitals, and we have new and better management strategies for diseases. However, the costs for care provision are rising and will continue to rise unless we change fundamentally the way we are providing care. This abstract offers an insight into current research activity exploring the management of chronic pain in Scotland, with discussion of initial findings. View resource Previous item Next item

While there are examples of resources that promote online safety for people with learning disabilities, young people, carers, and practitioners in one area of Scotland have indicated the necessity to have a centralised and interactive resource to encourage people to develop online safety skills and understand how to stay healthy and safe online. These are primarily physical resources such as worksheets, slides, and booklets with limited interactive content. In this paper we discuss an alternative approach that uses an immersive games-based learning tool to train and influence the behaviour of young people with learning disabilities. The online safety tool has potential to help community, acute health/social workers or guardians educate and monitor the online vulnerability and safety of a young person with a learning disability. < Return to resources Using Games Based Learning to Support Young People with Learning Disabilities Stay Safe Online Usoro, Idong, and Connolly, Thomas and Raman, Sneha and French, Tara and Caulfield, Stuart While there are examples of resources that promote online safety for people with learning disabilities, young people, carers, and practitioners in one area of Scotland have indicated the necessity to have a centralised and interactive resource to encourage people to develop online safety skills and understand how to stay healthy and safe online. These are primarily physical resources such as worksheets, slides, and booklets with limited interactive content. In this paper we discuss an alternative approach that uses an immersive games-based learning tool to train and influence the behaviour of young people with learning disabilities. The online safety tool has potential to help community, acute health/social workers or guardians educate and monitor the online vulnerability and safety of a young person with a learning disability. View resource Previous item Next item

Using the 3 Cs to create digital solutions to the Covid-19 challenge < Return to projects Covid-19 related projects Project impact Rapid Covid-19 Response through Innovation: DHI quickly developed digital tools supporting Scotland’s health and social care needs, benefiting patients and frontline staff. Strengthening Sector Collaboration: DHI partnered with NHS, government, and SMEs to co-design critical Covid-19 tools, enhancing Scotland's response capabilities. Setting New Standards in Digital Health: DHI’s Covid-19 projects, like the National Notification Service, streamlined processes, delivering rapid, impactful solutions for Scotland’s health sector. Using the 3 Cs to create digital solutions to the Covid-19 challenge The Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) was commissioned, and continues to be actively involved, in supporting the Scottish Government’s national response to the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic from the first week in March 2020. We have onboarded six new Covid-19 projects over the last five months, which has resulted in DHI re-prioritising our work program and reallocating staff resources to accelerate our pace of working. Our whole team has risen to these challenges and have produced high quality products that are being deployed into a live service, supporting the population of Scotland (patients, service users as well as health and social care staff) at this critical point. We have established close working relations with all key partners across Scotland, particularly the Digital Directorate, NHS Scotland Digital, NES and TEC functions as well as national and territorial health boards, the Digital Office for Local Government and key third sector and independent sector organisations. Several academic and industry partners have also been engaged to support this work. This includes several Scottish SMEs including Storm ID, Sitekit, Daysix, Tactuum and Cohesion along with Scottish Enterprise. The DHI team worked virtually and used a variety of interactive, online tools to collaborate and co-design, develop and define solutions and services, collaboratively with stakeholders. Frequently involving up to 30 participants, project workshops were organised and facilitated with technologists, clinicians, designers, NHS staff and representatives from the Government to gather experience-based insight, document requirements and plan for wider integration. Following the success of this new type of working, we plan on integrating elements of it into all future projects to help fastrack innovation ideation into delivery. Summary The National Notification Service has changed the way Scottish health boards view and communicate test results, relieving the front line of the burden of administrating thousands of test results so that they could focused on higher impact health protection duties The Simple Tracing Tools equipped all 14 Scottish health boards with the digital means to capture contact tracing data during peak Covid-19. 733 clinical users were onboarded and they traced 1618 index cases and their contacts over a 2 month period at peak – this allowed Scotland to leave full lockdown earlier The Clinical Assessment Tool has been used for over three thousand assessments of patients in the Glasgow area. It has fed early intelligence into surveillance systems to help identify outbreaks earlier. This is currently being scaled up to other boards in Scotland The Covid Community Co-management tools have been developed and user research completed – with the Scottish population demonstrating their support for a more active digital role in contact tracing. This tool is due to go live later in the autumn in 2020 and will help with the expected increase in Covid-19 cases over the winter period Impact & value Progress to date Next steps Covid-19 Projects The Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) was commissioned and remains actively engaged in supporting the Scottish Government’s national response to the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic through various related projects View Projects Partners Project staff Resources Global Examples of COVID-19 Surveillance Technologies Flash Report Rapid Review of Contact Tracing Methods for COVID-19 Using Innovation to Develop Digital Tools for Public Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic Emerging Trends in Digital Health and Care: A Refresh Post-COVID Emerging Trends in Digital Health and Care: A Refresh Post-COVID (booklet) Previous project Projects index page Next project

Jennifer ThomasSkills and Project Manager < Return to team Jennifer Thomas Skills and Project Manager Jennifer is responsible for managing a programme of work that produces innovative, additional educational opportunities in Moray for frontline health and care employees, and the specialist and technical staff working in digital health and care. She is a qualified Product Design Engineer and has worked on a broad range of social and economic development projects throughout her career. Prior to joining DHI in 2019, she successfully managed and delivered several large-scale health and social care research projects for the Scottish Government, NHE Education Scotland and Skills Development Scotland. She also brings a well-developed knowledge and understanding of the skills landscape in Scotland. Since 2014, Jennifer has managed a range of industry skills studies and contributed research and analysis work to several skills programmes. Email LinkedIn Related Projects Next team member Previous team page Team page

Macmillan Cancer Support commissioned DHI and Abertay University to develop a visual tool using gaming theory and AI to identify support needs of People Affected by Cancer (PABC). The tool analyses characteristics and similar cases to offer personalised care and resource planning, with interfaces for patients and health professionals. < Return to projects My Cancer MAI Care Project impact AI driven decision support for people living with cancer Participatory design methodologies were used to understand and define the needs of stakeholders Helps professionals to make care decisions informed by information generated by service use data analysis. Macmillan Cancer Support commissioned DHI and Abertay University to develop a visual tool using gaming theory and AI to identify support needs of People Affected by Cancer (PABC). The tool analyses characteristics and similar cases to offer personalised care and resource planning, with interfaces for patients and health professionals. Cancer care in the UK faces critical challenges, including an ageing population and limited resources, demanding greater efficiency and improved care through technology. Macmillan Cancer Support has access to large datasets that can be used to drive evidence-based decisions, but their scale and complexity challenge traditional analysis methods. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) provide cost-effective tools to unlock the value of such data, supporting professionals in improving outcomes for persons affected by cancer (PABC). When combined with immersive user experience (UX) tools, like gaming technology, AI’s potential is significantly increased. Identifying the most impactful areas for these technologies requires an understanding and definition of specific cancer care pathways. Engaging users ensures that service needs dictate technology use, not vice versa. By embracing AI and user-driven innovation, cancer care in the UK can significantly improve efficiency and outcomes. Summary For health and social care professionals: AI can support planning and rapid decision making, helping professionals to make care decisions informed by information generated by service use data analysis. This could occur through intelligent summarisation of datasets and interactive visualization of complex information. For PABC: AI systems hold the promise of enabling PABC to self-manage more effectively by placing powerful and trusted automated agents at their disposal. However, PABC might find it difficult to engage with these complex tools. As a result, advances need to be made not just in the deployment of AI for PABC but in the user-friendliness and security of these systems. Impact & value The primary goal of this project was to provide Health and Care professionals, particularly link workers, with accessible data to enable consistent support services. A critical focus was on the visualisation component, which was thoroughly tested by potential end users. As a result, the project developed and evaluated an interactive and dynamic information visualisation tool designed to present association rule-mined data effectively. Progress to date Next steps Partners Project staff Resources Kang, K. L., Hastings, A., Hughes, A. D., Myszkowska, K., Greer, M., Preston, J., McIntyre, D., Hughes, J., Mackenzie, K., Bown, J., & Falconer, R. (2025). Creating informative experiences through a visual and interactive representation of health and social care data. Information Visualization, 0(0). Previous project Projects index page Next project

This project designed and evaluated a Diabetes Prevention Information App as part of a scalable, digitally enabled service model integrated into primary care to support individuals at risk of Type 2 diabetes. < Return to projects Living Lab 2C: Prevent Progress of Diabetes App Project impact The intervention significantly improved users’ knowledge, confidence, and motivation to adopt healthier lifestyle behaviours, with 94% reporting increased knowledge and 88% reporting improved confidence. A blended model combining digital tools with brief professional (dietitian) support enhanced engagement and enabled more effective access to preventative services. The project demonstrated a scalable, cost-effective approach to diabetes prevention that can reduce demand on healthcare services while improving population-level health outcomes. This project designed and evaluated a Diabetes Prevention Information App as part of a scalable, digitally enabled service model integrated into primary care to support individuals at risk of Type 2 diabetes. This project developed and tested a diabetes prevention app integrated into primary care, using a person-centred model tailored to individuals’ digital confidence. An 8-week pilot with high-risk patients showed strong engagement, improved knowledge, and increased motivation for lifestyle change, with many participants making or planning healthier behaviour changes. Summary This project demonstrates a scalable, cost-effective digital approach to diabetes prevention that can be delivered within existing NHS infrastructure. By supporting early intervention and self-management, it has the potential to reduce long-term demand on healthcare services. The model provides an equitable and flexible approach, accommodating different levels of digital literacy, while enhancing patient engagement and service uptake through the integration of digital tools with professional support. Impact & value The app content was co-designed through a series of workshops and developed on the Right Decision Service platform. A pilot was then implemented within a GP practice in Moray, targeting patients identified as being at high risk of developing diabetes. An eight-week evaluation demonstrated strong engagement, with 63% of participants actively using the app and 92% rating it as easy to use. Positive behavioural outcomes were also observed, with most participants reporting lifestyle changes or intentions to make changes. The integration of professional support was successfully tested, with 79% of participants taking up dietitian support. Building on these encouraging findings, the next phase will focus on scaling the approach across NHS settings, enhancing app functionality, and expanding evaluation to larger and more diverse populations. Progress to date Next steps Partners Project staff Resources Developing a Digitally Enabled Universal Service Model to Reduce Type 2 Diabetes Risk Previous project Projects index page Next project

Stephanie CroweResearch Fellow < Return to team Stephanie Crowe Research Fellow Stephanie is a design researcher working at the intersection of health, care, and wellbeing. She uses participatory and design-led methods to explore how emerging technologies can enhance autonomy, connection, and meaningful participation in health and care. Her work bridges research, practice, and innovation by co-designing with clinicians, researchers, and communities, and applying design to understand complex challenges and shape inclusive, evidence-informed approaches. Stephanie holds an MSc in Psychology and is completing a PhD in Product Design, where her research includes exploring virtual reality in brain injury rehabilitation. She also has industry experience as a consultant and design studio founder. Email LinkedIn Related Projects Next team member Previous team page Team page

The Right Decision Service (RDS) is Scotland’s national decision support service for health and social care. Funded by the Scottish Government and owned by Healthcare Improvement Scotland, RDS provides digital tools for safe, timely healthcare decisions based on validated evidence and patient-centred outcomes. < Return to projects The Right Decision Support Service (RDS) Project impact Over 180 web and mobile decision support tools 1,777,077 unique users registered; 10.4 million page views in 2023 alone In 2023, 93% saw an impact on evidence informed practice The Right Decision Service (RDS) is Scotland’s national decision support service for health and social care. Funded by the Scottish Government and owned by Healthcare Improvement Scotland, RDS provides digital tools for safe, timely healthcare decisions based on validated evidence and patient-centred outcomes. The Right Decision Service (RDS) is the national decision support service for Scotland’s health and social care. It was endorsed and funded by the Scottish Government as the platform for delivery of the national decision support programme. The RDS was significantly developed at DHI over a number of years. It secured funding from the Scottish Government to develop a platform to support decision-support products and the development of new products to support clinical services across the country. Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) took on the national ownership role for the Right Decision Service in 2023. The mission of the RDS is to be the Once for Scotland source of digital tools which enable staff to make safe, timely decisions ‘on the go,’ based on validated evidence and outcomes that matter to people. The RDS is a change agent for the delivery of value-based health and care. It brings together evidence from: validated research, practice experience, and the lived experiences of patients and service users, embedding this evidence in decision-ready formats through RDS tools such as web and mobile apps and electronic care records. Summary Adoption at scale as a business-as-usual service: the RDS is embedded as a core enabler of health and care delivery in the majority of Scottish NHS Boards and a growing number of health and social care partnerships. This embedding in mainstream service delivery is now consolidated through the transition of RDS from its innovation phase in DHI to HIS as a mainstream business-as-usual service. Growing impact in the form of savings in time and resources, improved safety and quality of care, workforce skills and improved processes. These are underpinned by widespread usage across sectors and strong policy mandates for national delivery. Scottish Government Digital Health and Care noted that this “is the first example of a digital health and care programme that has been trialled and piloted with our partners, through to mainstream delivery led by a national NHS Board, and highlights the success of our collaborative approach.” 12 of the 14 territorial boards, 6 health and social care partnerships, 4 national NHS Boards, 3 national social care organisations, 8 national programmes and 3 third sector organisations are using the RDS to deliver decision support tools that support their priorities. Impact & value The RDS continues to be developed by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS). At the point RDS was transferred to HIS, it had progressed hugely. The Right Decision Service received official recognition in the form of the 2022 Digital Public Services Award. This award is granted in collaboration by Holyrood Communications, Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government, for a digital public sector innovation that has delivered measurable impact in the past year. RDS has helped to release practitioner time and the optimal use of resource. In a survey of 36 RDS implementation leads across 12 organisations conducted in January 2023, .77% confirmed that RDS tools are enabling better use of available resource. .64% report that RDS tools are saving staff time 62% state that RDS tools have reduced costs. “Streamlining access to guidance and evidence-based decision support so that it is instantly accessible when and where clinicians need it.” RDS has also led to improved safety and quality of care: 79% of RDS implementation leads indicate that RDS tools are already improving patient safety in their organisations. 74% advise that RDS tools have improved quality of patient care, and 65% indicate that they are driving up consistent evidence-based practice. This work is being taken forward by Healthcare Improvement Scotland Progress to date Next steps Partners Project staff Resources Right Decision Service website How does decision support work? Decision support for chronic pain management Decision support for co-morbidities and polypharmacy Diabetes with hypertension: decision support for self-management and stratifying risk, based on citizen-generated and clinical data Previous project Projects index page Next project

Gemma TealResearch Fellow < Return to team Gemma Teal Research Fellow Gemma is a design researcher specialising in health and wellbeing. She focuses on opening the design process to include academics from other disciplines, industry partners, health professionals and the public. She designs for meaningful participation through innovative community engagement, insight-gathering tools, workshops, and digital and service prototyping. Gemma’s research interests include developing and applying participatory design approaches and visual methods within health and wellbeing contexts, and in using design to enable and integrate multidisciplinary research collaborations to design evidence-based interventions. Gemma has a Master’s in Product Design Engineering and a wealth of experience. She has led projects exploring how people-centred digital and service innovation can support: self-management of diabetes, new models of care for people living with multiple long-term conditions, and new ways of empowering citizens and health and care staff through person-owned data stores. Email LinkedIn Related Projects Next team member Previous team page Team page

Strathclyde Business School (SBS) in Dubai is a part of the University of Strathclyde, a leading international institution in Scotland. It offers postgraduate programs, including the well-regarded Executive MBA, at a campus located in Dubai Knowledge Park. The school is known for its triple accreditation (AMBA, EQUIS, and AACSB) and its strong focus on practical business learning alongside theoretical knowledge. Visit Partner's website Previous Item Next Item

The Digital Care Collaborative Scotland (DCCS) was launched in December 2025 to create the conditions for sustainable digital innovation across social care, social work and housing. It brings together national partners and people with lived experience from across care, housing, academia, policy and industry to accelerate the adoption of digital approaches that improve outcomes for people and communities.  < Return to resources Digital Care Collaborative Scotland A community driving digital innovation across social care, social work and housing Professor Margaret Whoriskey, Dr Tara French and Dr Sanna Rimpilainen The Digital Care Collaborative Scotland (DCCS) was launched in December 2025 to create the conditions for sustainable digital innovation across social care, social work and housing. It brings together national partners and people with lived experience from across care, housing, academia, policy and industry to accelerate the adoption of digital approaches that improve outcomes for people and communities. View resource Previous item Next item