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A community driving digital innovation across social care, social work and housing. The Digital Care Collaborative Scotland (DCCS) was launched in December 2025 to create the conditions to drive digital innovation across social care, social work and housing communities. Home / Innovation clusters / Digital Care Collaborative Scotland (DCCS) A community driving digital innovation across social care, social work and housing The Digital Care Collaborative Scotland (DCCS) was launched in December 2025 to create the conditions to drive digital innovation across social care, social work and housing communities. The Digital Care Collaborative Scotland (DCCS) brings together partners from social care, social work, housing, research, policy and industry to enable sustainable digital innovation. Through a collective partnership with national organisations, the DCCS drives digital innovation across Scotland’s communities through shared priorities, practical learning, and coordinated action. DCCS aligns digital care strategies and connects existing activity, helping partners to meaningfully implement digital technology to benefit communities across the landscape of care. It complements similar approaches in health, such as the ANIA (Accelerated National Innovation Adoption) pathway and regional Innovation Hubs. Hosted by the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) and delivered in collaboration with national partners, DCCS provides strategic coordination, alignment, and knowledge exchange to support digital care innovation. The DCCS will focus on five priority areas that have been developed through engagement with national bodies, industry partners and care providers across Scotland, to create the conditions for a flourishing pathway for digital care innovation: Creating the Conditions for Digital Care Innovation: Developing a strategic framework/pathway that sets priorities, promotes service parity, and positions the DCCS as a trusted source of advice and alignment for digital care innovation. Collaboration and Knowledge Exchange: Establishing a space where care, tech, and policy can connect, learn, share, and collaborate across Scotland, UK and internationally. Learning and Evidence Building: Showcasing best practice, consolidating evidence and leveraging funding opportunities for digital care innovation. Developing Resources and Practical Tools: Providing access to simple, actionable tools and examples to apply innovation locally. Workforce Capability and Learner Pathways in Digital Innovation: Supporting partners such as NHS Education Scotland (NES) and the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) to strengthen digital innovation leadership and workforce confidence. We are currently finalising the delivery plan for 2026 and more information will be available soon. Overview Resources To support knowledge exchange we share all relevant DCCS related assets and information with our network. DCCS Resources (Reports) Digital Innovation in Social Care - Industry Engagement Workshop: Report, September 2025 Digital Innovation in Social Care: Priorities and Opportunities for Scotland DCCS Resources (Links) Future Health and Wellbeing - Digital Innovation in Social Care: Priorities and Opportunities for Scotland Contacts Professor Margaret Whoriskey : DCCS Strategic Lead

Experience Labs provide a new way of working collaboratively within health and social care contexts in Scotland through a process of exploration, co-design and co-creation, and rapid prototyping of ideas. Bringing together academic, business, and civic partners, Experience Labs provide the opportunity for extreme collaboration in a safe and realistic environment. Through a series of design-led activities, which position the user at the centre of the design process, the Labs enable the trialling of ideas and co-design of sustainable health and social care solutions, together with end-users. This paper presents the findings of a design-led project to co-design a new directory of services application for the Scottish Ambulance Service. The Experience Lab aimed to explore and develop a basic prototype of a Directory App to support ambulance clinicians to consider alternatives to Accident and Emergency where appropriate and support initial small-scale testing. < Return to resources Co-designing a digital directory of services French, Tara and Teal, Gemma Experience Labs provide a new way of working collaboratively within health and social care contexts in Scotland through a process of exploration, co-design and co-creation, and rapid prototyping of ideas. Bringing together academic, business, and civic partners, Experience Labs provide the opportunity for extreme collaboration in a safe and realistic environment. Through a series of design-led activities, which position the user at the centre of the design process, the Labs enable the trialling of ideas and co-design of sustainable health and social care solutions, together with end-users. This paper presents the findings of a design-led project to co-design a new directory of services application for the Scottish Ambulance Service. The Experience Lab aimed to explore and develop a basic prototype of a Directory App to support ambulance clinicians to consider alternatives to Accident and Emergency where appropriate and support initial small-scale testing. View resource Previous item Next item

Dave MoretonConsultant Support < Return to team Dave Moreton Consultant Support Dave is the Project Manager for the Digital Products and Services workstream within the Digital Lifelines Scotland programme and works as consultancy support for DHI. He has extensive experience in Project and Programme Management and previous work for DHI includes; Interim Programme Manager for the Rural Centre of Excellence for Digital Health & Care Innovation, and DHI Exchange Process Redesign. Prior to joining DHI Dave worked in Programme and Project Management in the Public and Private Sectors for over 30 years. Email LinkedIn Related Projects Next team member Previous team page Team page

Analysis of the definitions of digital health and the subthemes within it. < Return to resources Defining Digital Health Morrison, Ciarán Analysis of the definitions of digital health and the subthemes within it. View resource Previous item Next item

The research report explores the role of Smart Housing in supporting health and care in Scotland. < Return to resources Supporting Health and Wellbeing: Can Smart Housing Help Revolutionise Health and Care? Morrison, Ciarán The research report explores the role of Smart Housing in supporting health and care in Scotland. View resource Previous item Next item

This Digital Health & Care Innovation Cente (DHI) phase 2.0 year 2 Annual Report sets out the significant impact made by DHI over the last 12 months and our further planned contribution to: • the expansion of digital health and care innovation; • post COVID-19 Remobilisation and Recovery; and • Scotland’s Green Recovery. < Return to resources Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre Phase 2 - Year 2 Annual Report (August 2020 to July 2021) Hughes, J This Digital Health & Care Innovation Cente (DHI) phase 2.0 year 2 Annual Report sets out the significant impact made by DHI over the last 12 months and our further planned contribution to: • the expansion of digital health and care innovation; • post COVID-19 Remobilisation and Recovery; and • Scotland’s Green Recovery. View resource Previous item Next item

Dr Petra WilsonBoard Chair < Return to team Dr Petra Wilson Board Chair Petra has over 25 years’ experience in the health and life sciences sector, ranging across academia, public sector, industry and the not-for-profit sector. In 2016 she set up Health Connect Partners, a boutique consulting firm which provides advisory services on digital health to organisations in healthcare and life sciences. Health Connect Partners is also engaged in a number of EU funded research projects in the digital health sector, working in partnership with the Institute for Innovation through Health Data. Petra’s career began in 1992 when after completing a PhD in Public Health Law, she worked for Nottingham University in research and teaching before being seconded to the European Commission where she was for 8 years in the digital health unit, supporting early work on Electronic Health Records and Connected Medical Devices. She then moved to the private sector, as a senior director in Cisco’s public health team, before moving to lead the International Diabetes Federation as its CEO. This latter experience developed her skills both in the subject matter of diabetes and in lobbying for the rights of diabetes patients at the highest levels of EU policy making. The thread running through all her work is to harness the power of data and digital tools in health to drive more accessible, resilient and efficient health systems that can put patients in the driving seat of their care. This is the passion and engagement she brings to her work with a wide range of clients in the healthcare and life sciences sector to support them in understanding the implications of EU policy for their business and helping position them as core partners in EU health systems. Petra also holds an advisor role with the digital health team at WHO Europe, and serves as an editorial Board Member of Data Saves Lives run by the European Patients Forum, and Member of the Digital Health Board Committee of EURODIS, the EU Rare Diseases Organisation. Email LinkedIn Related Projects Next team member Previous team page Team page

Midlothian Health and Social Care Partnership (MHSCP) received Scottish Government TEC Pathfinder funding to explore how digital technology can innovate the frailty care system in Midlothian. Partnering with DHI, MHSCP uses design-led approaches to engage citizens, clinical and service stakeholders, and key partners like the British Red Cross and VOCAL. < Return to projects Midlothian HSCP TEC Pathfinder - Innovating in the Frailty System Project impact Development of a non-functional prototype to improve the experience of people living with frailty (family, carers and staff) Potential use of the non-functional prototype to develop a live prototype and services trial Midlothian Health and Social Care Partnership (MHSCP) received Scottish Government TEC Pathfinder funding to explore how digital technology can innovate the frailty care system in Midlothian. Partnering with DHI, MHSCP uses design-led approaches to engage citizens, clinical and service stakeholders, and key partners like the British Red Cross and VOCAL. The project began in 2019 and follows the Scottish Approach to Service Design (SAtSD). In applying this, this enables us to start with a ‘blank canvas’ to develop, without boundaries or preconceptions, what the best approach would be to redesign for frailty services, identifying some key barriers and potential solutions. There were a number of stages to the project: Stage 1 of the project ‘Discover and Define’ was completed in 2020 which gained insight into the challenges for citizens and helped define some of the barriers and areas of focus for the next stage of the project. Stage 2, the ‘develop and deliver’, started to design the solution using a combination of technology and service development. Through this stage, it was agreed that innovation was required to improve the early assessment process and reduce the need to repeat the same information to different services as the citizen progresses through the care pathway. Summary To improve the experience of those living with frailty for the person, their family, carers and staff, through the development of safe, reliable systems and pathways of care processes, breaking down the barriers between organisations. Impact & value Stage 3 was completed in 2023 which produced a non-functional prototype (non-functioning software that is a realistic user interface that shows the person’s journey through the digital service). This is a non-functional prototype of British Red Cross frailty assessment that can connect with VOCAL systems fed by a personal data store. It would in practice enable citizens to tell their story once at the point of an improved frailty assessment, add to the information and share this with the different interested services and staff and caregivers. Potential use of the non-functional prototype to develop a live prototype and services trial. Progress to date Next steps Partners Project staff Resources Read our findings from Year 1 Previous project Projects index page Next project

Michelle BroganDigital Health and Care Innovation lead < Return to team Michelle Brogan Digital Health and Care Innovation lead Michelle leads a portfolio of development and delivery of digital innovation projects on behalf of DHI and currently is the Strategic and Portfolio Lead for Diabetes within the Digital Health and Care Directorate within the Scottish Government which is a joint role within DHI. She works to identify and develop innovation opportunities, supports knowledge transfer to optimise adoption, and plays a key role in supporting organisations to deliver transformational service change underpinned by digital services. Before DHI, Michelle worked at the Scottish Centre for Telehealth and Telecare in NHS 24 and has led several national Digital Scale Up programmes. She was the national lead for the remote monitoring portfolio funded by Scotland Government and programme lead for EU funded initiative United4Health. Michelle is a business professional with a wealth of experience in operational management, programme management, implementation, service improvement and development of citizen-facing digital services. Michelle has a Masters in Leadership and Change Management. Email LinkedIn Related Projects Next team member Previous team page Team page

Alex PorteousProject Co-ordinator < Return to team Alex Porteous Project Co-ordinator Alex has direct responsibility for the coordination of a variety of projects for the PMO Programme and supports the Chief Technology Officer with the DHI Exchange programme. A Prince2 Agile qualified Project Coordinator with over 6 years of experience working in digital health & care innovation, Alex has enjoyed working on national and European projects with an interest in person-centred approaches to health & care. Email LinkedIn Related Projects Next team member Previous team page Team page

The Dudes project explored young people’s experiences of living with diabetes and how they would like to be supported in self-management using digital resources. In the early stages of development, Dudes is an interactive online education site for young people living with type 1 diabetes, situated within My Diabetes My Way. Dudes aims to support young people aged 17-25 years to understand self-management for their lifestyle and has been developed by a collaborative team from Edinburgh Napier University, NHS Lothian and the University of Dundee. It was accepted by the DHI as part of an integrated ‘Digital Diabetes’ programme of projects seeking to develop digital resources to support self-management. < Return to resources Digital Diabetes Dudes Teal, Gemma and Thorup, Tine and Baillie, Jen and Johnson, Michael The Dudes project explored young people’s experiences of living with diabetes and how they would like to be supported in self-management using digital resources. In the early stages of development, Dudes is an interactive online education site for young people living with type 1 diabetes, situated within My Diabetes My Way. Dudes aims to support young people aged 17-25 years to understand self-management for their lifestyle and has been developed by a collaborative team from Edinburgh Napier University, NHS Lothian and the University of Dundee. It was accepted by the DHI as part of an integrated ‘Digital Diabetes’ programme of projects seeking to develop digital resources to support self-management. View resource Previous item Next item

The role of the designer is changing from the ‘top-down’ creative to the humble designer (Slavin, 2016), fostering collaboration with a range of stakeholders and partnering with other disciplines as the ‘integrative discipline’ (Teal and French, 2016). As such, a new consideration of empathy is required to creatively engage people in co-creation using participatory design approaches. This paper discusses empathy within a participatory design approach, sharing methods and reflections of designing ‘with’ and ‘for’ empathy. The paper considers the role of the designer in engendering empathy in collaborative creativity and illustrates approaches from applied projects in the health and care context. < Return to resources Design for empathy in collaborative creativity French, Tara and Teal, Gemma The role of the designer is changing from the ‘top-down’ creative to the humble designer (Slavin, 2016), fostering collaboration with a range of stakeholders and partnering with other disciplines as the ‘integrative discipline’ (Teal and French, 2016). As such, a new consideration of empathy is required to creatively engage people in co-creation using participatory design approaches. This paper discusses empathy within a participatory design approach, sharing methods and reflections of designing ‘with’ and ‘for’ empathy. The paper considers the role of the designer in engendering empathy in collaborative creativity and illustrates approaches from applied projects in the health and care context. View resource Previous item Next item

Kelly WalkerProject Support Officer < Return to team Kelly Walker Project Support Officer Kelly is the Project Support Officer for Digital Lifelines Scotland and works for Programme Management Services within NHS National Services Scotland. Digital Lifelines Scotland is a programme supported by the Digital Health and Care Directorate within the Scottish Government and managed by DHI. She has worked in project management for 7 years and has a vast array of experience of national initiatives within the public sector. Email LinkedIn Related Projects Next team member Previous team page Team page

This research reports looks at examples of computable medical records around the world in 2016. Computable records are set to drive the evolution of Electronic Health Records (EHRs), aiming for interoperability, portability, and comprehensive health data. These records, readable by humans and machines, will contain a patient's entire medical history and declare their fidelity level, ensuring users can assess completeness and accuracy. Unique and ideally open-source, these records will support a health status scoring system and facilitate adoption across various stakeholders. < Return to resources Computable Records: The Next Generation of the EMR Conversation Rimpiläinen, Sanna This research reports looks at examples of computable medical records around the world in 2016. Computable records are set to drive the evolution of Electronic Health Records (EHRs), aiming for interoperability, portability, and comprehensive health data. These records, readable by humans and machines, will contain a patient's entire medical history and declare their fidelity level, ensuring users can assess completeness and accuracy. Unique and ideally open-source, these records will support a health status scoring system and facilitate adoption across various stakeholders. View resource Previous item Next item

‘SCOTCAP Service Model Evaluation’ is a collaboration between DHI, NHS Highland, NHS Grampian, NHS Western Isles and the Medtronic/ Corporate Health International (CHI) partnership. It was carried out during the SCOTCAP project’s Innovation Phase from May 2019 to March 2020. The project partners are working together to develop a service model through an evaluative process. This evolutionary approach offers an innovative, adaptable, and responsive approach to developing a new service model. The DHI and participating teams collaborated across an extensive programme of work, and employed design innovation methodologies, to ensure that the challenges experienced, and opportunities identified were captured and analysed to underpin a set of recommendations for a service model blueprint. The service model blueprint will offer advisory actions for a ‘scaled version’ of SCOTCAP to support a national service model. < Return to resources SCOTCAP Service Evaluation Bradley, J.,Brogen, M., Palmer-Abbs, M., Rossi, G. and Wood, J. ‘SCOTCAP Service Model Evaluation’ is a collaboration between DHI, NHS Highland, NHS Grampian, NHS Western Isles and the Medtronic/ Corporate Health International (CHI) partnership. It was carried out during the SCOTCAP project’s Innovation Phase from May 2019 to March 2020. The project partners are working together to develop a service model through an evaluative process. This evolutionary approach offers an innovative, adaptable, and responsive approach to developing a new service model. The DHI and participating teams collaborated across an extensive programme of work, and employed design innovation methodologies, to ensure that the challenges experienced, and opportunities identified were captured and analysed to underpin a set of recommendations for a service model blueprint. The service model blueprint will offer advisory actions for a ‘scaled version’ of SCOTCAP to support a national service model. View resource Previous item Next item

The Network for Technology, Innovation, and Translation in Ageing (TITTAN) aimed to promote active, healthy ageing across Europe. Funded by Interreg Europe, DHI collaborated with six regional healthcare systems to exchange, benchmark, and implement innovative policies. < Return to projects TITTAN & TITTAN Covid-19 Project impact 86 good practices shared across the partner regions including 13 from Scotland The project facilitated interregional workshops on innovative health procurement, innovation ecosystems, and citizen tech awareness Additional funding was secured to study COVID-19's impact on ageing, focusing on healthcare pathways and patient empowerment The Network for Technology, Innovation, and Translation in Ageing (TITTAN) aimed to promote active, healthy ageing across Europe. Funded by Interreg Europe, DHI collaborated with six regional healthcare systems to exchange, benchmark, and implement innovative policies. The Network for Technology, Innovation and Translation in Ageing (TITTAN) aimed to tackle the common challenge of encouraging active and healthy ageing across Europe. Funded by Interreg Europe, DHI collaborated with 6 European regional healthcare systems to exchange, benchmark and implement good practices in policies which can foster the design, uptake and use of innovative solutions. Summary The TITTAN project encouraged knowledge exchange through interregional workshops and case studies where experts and professionals from the partner regions across 3 thematic areas; How to update innovative health products/services through new public procurement practices How to promote the establishment of innovation ecosystems in the health sector How to raise citizen’s awareness about using new technologies for improving quality of life. DHI hosted 3 in situ visits in Scotland and participated in a partner insitu visit and a final knowledge exchange conference. Following the success of the TITTAN project, the partners were approved for additional funding to undertake further knowledge exchange activity looking at the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the ageing population with a specific focus on; Healthcare Delivery pathways Active and Healthy Ageing Ecosystems and Patient empowerment The good practice leads from TITTAN Covid-19 presented at the 3 thematic workshops. Workshop 1 was hosted by DHI and was a virtual event attended by over 30 attendees from the partner regions. A hybrid event took place in Galicia, Spain in September 2022 entitled ‘Covid and the Future of Healthcare’. Impact & value The TITTAN project and TITTAN Covid-19 reach completion in 2023 and delivered; A local action plan Presentation of good practices to regional partners across TITTAN and TITTAN Covid-19 thematic areas Good practices uploaded to the Interreg Good Practice Database (86 in total, 13 from Scotland) Knowledge exchange of good practices with stakeholders in Scotland including participation in in-situ visits This project is completed and closed. 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 TITTAN COVID-19 Good Practices View the final assessment report for TITTAN COVID - 19 Watch the TITTAN video Visit the TITTAN project website Previous project Projects index page Next project

This project expanded the National Notification Service (NSS) by adding a self-service contact tracing form, crucial to the COVID-19 response. It facilitated rapid data collection and improved accessibility for positive cases. < Return to projects COVID-19 Community Co-management (Co3) Project impact By August ‘21, the application accounted for 40% of all contacts traced, reducing pressure on contact tracing staff The App went through full simulation, development and governance Deployed across 11 Scottish Health Boards This project expanded the National Notification Service (NSS) by adding a self-service contact tracing form, crucial to the COVID-19 response. It facilitated rapid data collection and improved accessibility for positive cases. This project was a key part of the COVID-19 response and built on the functionality developed for the National Notification Service (NSS) to include a self-service contact tracing form to go out with each positive notification, allowing quick collection of data and enhancing the accessibility of the service. Summary The Co3 service project delivered: • Design workshops for Co3 • Service models developed • A Minimum Viable Product • Engagement with further stakeholders on how this tool could be deployed more widely • A prototype patient-facing tracing capability completed in June 2020 • Product enhancements for additional Health Board onboarding completed Nov 2020 • Live, implemented version of the tool completed by December 2020 • Live deployment across the whole of Scotland completed Impact & value The App was prototyped by the end of May 2020 in line with the original timetable. The App went through full simulation, development, governance and deployment across 11 Scottish Health Boards (as it was not applicable for island boards). As at 21st August 2020, it accounted for 40% of all contacts traced which reduced pressure on contact tracing staff. A full evaluation was conducted as to the effect and efficiency of the tool. A second version of the tool was developed with changes based on lessons learned during practice enhancing the triage support offered by self-service in case of future peaks. The project was completed and handed over to Scottish Government. 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 COVID-19 clinical assessments app walkthrough Previous project Projects index page Next project

This thesis critically examines self-management support services in Scotland through a gap analysis, highlighting the need for digital solutions to enhance national healthcare efficiency. It defines self-management and its significance, particularly in treating long-term conditions like diabetes. The analysis identifies gaps in current self-management support services and explores potential digital solutions, focusing on projects by the Digital Health and Care Institute and their implementation challenges. < Return to resources An Analysis of the Opportunities and Challenges Involved in the Formal Delivery of Self-Management Support in Diabetes using Digital Health Initiatives Rooney, Laura This thesis critically examines self-management support services in Scotland through a gap analysis, highlighting the need for digital solutions to enhance national healthcare efficiency. It defines self-management and its significance, particularly in treating long-term conditions like diabetes. The analysis identifies gaps in current self-management support services and explores potential digital solutions, focusing on projects by the Digital Health and Care Institute and their implementation challenges. View resource Previous item Next item

Dr Peter FuzesiResearch & Knowledge Management Officer < Return to team Dr Peter Fuzesi Research & Knowledge Management Officer Dr Peter Fuzesi is a social researcher with a background in Medical Sociology, Science, Technology and Society (STS) and Disability Studies. Prior to joining DHI, Peter worked on a number of research projects focusing on the use of assistive and health technologies, issues of inclusion and accessibility, and sustainability in healthcare services In DHI, Peter’s work focused on two areas: enabling and improving the use of data in healthcare, and market access for health and care-related technologies including medical and therapeutic devices, and digital platforms. He uses qualitative, quantitative, and digital methods to answer questions related to these issues. Email LinkedIn Related Projects Next team member Previous team page Team page

Recent research has highlighted the importance of responding to trauma and promoting healing when working with participants in sensitive contexts. This article presents a new methodology for design research on health topics which combines principles from narrative medicine (health storytelling) with codesign. In this collaborative, dialogic approach, participatory action research cycles of storytelling are used to inform a process of digital codesign, positioning participants as peer researchers. The resulting prototypes (termed healing fabulations) are a new type of design artefact which captures each participant’s lived experience while also extending it into a speculative future. Discussion of the methodology shows how the approach protects participant well-being during research on their health experiences, addresses common criticisms of digital design research, and explores the importance of visual metaphor and aesthetic in design for health. The article concludes with a discussion of the methodology’s replicability and use in future research. < Return to resources Healing Fabulations: A dialogic methodology for digital codesign in health research Cummings, Marissa and Teal, Gemma Recent research has highlighted the importance of responding to trauma and promoting healing when working with participants in sensitive contexts. This article presents a new methodology for design research on health topics which combines principles from narrative medicine (health storytelling) with codesign. In this collaborative, dialogic approach, participatory action research cycles of storytelling are used to inform a process of digital codesign, positioning participants as peer researchers. The resulting prototypes (termed healing fabulations) are a new type of design artefact which captures each participant’s lived experience while also extending it into a speculative future. Discussion of the methodology shows how the approach protects participant well-being during research on their health experiences, addresses common criticisms of digital design research, and explores the importance of visual metaphor and aesthetic in design for health. The article concludes with a discussion of the methodology’s replicability and use in future research. View resource Previous item Next item