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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

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

Diagnosing Atrial Fibrillation (AF) post-stroke is crucial, but its intermittent nature makes detection challenging during hospitalisation. A pilot program in NHS Lanarkshire explored a new managed service for AF screening using devices allowing 14 days of home monitoring, with reports generated by the service provider. Interviews with clinicians and patients highlighted acceptability and the need for further exploration regarding report generation preferences. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers and healthcare managers planning technology-enabled AF monitoring services. < Return to resources Process Evaluation for Technology Enabled Atrial Fibrillation Screening after a Stroke in Scotland Lennon, Marilyn and McCann, Lisa and Horan, Sarah and Kyfonidis, Babis and Munford, Rachel and Bruce, Angela and Neubeck, Lis and Barber, Mark and Brennan, Katrina and Mooney, Pamela Diagnosing Atrial Fibrillation (AF) post-stroke is crucial, but its intermittent nature makes detection challenging during hospitalisation. A pilot program in NHS Lanarkshire explored a new managed service for AF screening using devices allowing 14 days of home monitoring, with reports generated by the service provider. Interviews with clinicians and patients highlighted acceptability and the need for further exploration regarding report generation preferences. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers and healthcare managers planning technology-enabled AF monitoring services. 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 Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) collaborated with the Scottish Government to assist the Adult Mental Health Collaborative in organizing workshops to address mental health service complexities. Specifically, they led a workshop at the Mental Health Strategy National Forum focusing on the support provided to citizens in distress. Through stakeholder engagement, they developed tools to identify challenges and explore new opportunities for individuals in distress, with the findings intended for submission to the Scottish Government for potential integration into the adult mental health collaborative. < Return to resources Creation of a Universal Health & Wellbeing Service: What is the Offer to Citizens in Distress? Design Workshop Report Digital Health & Care Institute (DHI) & Crooks, G. (ed.) The Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) collaborated with the Scottish Government to assist the Adult Mental Health Collaborative in organizing workshops to address mental health service complexities. Specifically, they led a workshop at the Mental Health Strategy National Forum focusing on the support provided to citizens in distress. Through stakeholder engagement, they developed tools to identify challenges and explore new opportunities for individuals in distress, with the findings intended for submission to the Scottish Government for potential integration into the adult mental health collaborative. View resource Previous item Next item

Poster presenting early summary findings from Language of Pain research project. < Return to resources Language of Pain: Merging multiple voices for improved chronic pain management Hepburn, Leigh Anne and Jaatun, Ellen Poster presenting early summary findings from Language of Pain research project. View resource Previous item Next item

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

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

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

This assessment support pack has been developed to support the FUTUREquipped microlearning library “Understanding SMART Homes from a Construction, Information and Communication Technology, and Health and Care perspective”. The materials are at SCQF Level 6. The support pack is primarily for the purpose of the summative assessment of learners against the requirements of the related unit and assessment standards. It must not be used for formative assessment. < Return to resources FUTUREquipped Assessment Support Pack for 'Understanding SMART Homes from a Construction, Information and Communication Technology, and Health and Care Perspective': SCQF Level 6 Gale, Lewis This assessment support pack has been developed to support the FUTUREquipped microlearning library “Understanding SMART Homes from a Construction, Information and Communication Technology, and Health and Care perspective”. The materials are at SCQF Level 6. The support pack is primarily for the purpose of the summative assessment of learners against the requirements of the related unit and assessment standards. It must not be used for formative assessment. View resource Previous item Next item

In this position paper we propose that many forms of care can and should be implicit with greater effort to ‘normalise’ care by supporting and instilling care values of empathy, compassion, and dignity; what we term the ‘subtleties of care’. There is a key role for design in developing asset-based care (Garven et al., 2016) which supports and responds to the aspirations and capabilities of people to enable eudaimonic wellbeing and prevent the assumption of the ‘cared for’, dependent role. The creation of asset-based care experiences can also promote a sense of identity that enhances self-worth, personal growth and control, shifting care from a transactional model of providing and receiving, to a model which values the contribution of the person, self-care, wider circles of care (including families and professionals) and the role of the community. < Return to resources The subtleties of care: illuminating relational care through design French, Tara and Teal, Gemma and Broadley, Cara In this position paper we propose that many forms of care can and should be implicit with greater effort to ‘normalise’ care by supporting and instilling care values of empathy, compassion, and dignity; what we term the ‘subtleties of care’. There is a key role for design in developing asset-based care (Garven et al., 2016) which supports and responds to the aspirations and capabilities of people to enable eudaimonic wellbeing and prevent the assumption of the ‘cared for’, dependent role. The creation of asset-based care experiences can also promote a sense of identity that enhances self-worth, personal growth and control, shifting care from a transactional model of providing and receiving, to a model which values the contribution of the person, self-care, wider circles of care (including families and professionals) and the role of the community. View resource Previous item Next item

The Digital Innovation in Social Care – Industry Engagement Workshop (June 2025) brought together 51 participants from industry, academia, health, and social care sectors to explore priorities and opportunities for digital transformation in Scotland’s social care system. The workshop identified systemic barriers to scaling innovation, including fragmented leadership, limited data integration, and lack of clear investment guidance. Participants emphasised the importance of creating readiness for change, fostering knowledge exchange, and aligning digital strategy with frontline practice. Key themes included building a digital innovation pipeline, promoting interoperability, supporting workforce capability, and embedding inclusive, ethical digital practices. Insights from the workshop will inform the development of a national Digital Care Innovation Hub to drive collaboration and sustainable transformation. < Return to resources Digital Innovation in Social Care - Industry Engagement Workshop Raman, Sneha and French, Tara and Whyte, Anna and Whoriskey, Margaret and Lyons, Abigail The Digital Innovation in Social Care – Industry Engagement Workshop (June 2025) brought together 51 participants from industry, academia, health, and social care sectors to explore priorities and opportunities for digital transformation in Scotland’s social care system. The workshop identified systemic barriers to scaling innovation, including fragmented leadership, limited data integration, and lack of clear investment guidance. Participants emphasised the importance of creating readiness for change, fostering knowledge exchange, and aligning digital strategy with frontline practice. Key themes included building a digital innovation pipeline, promoting interoperability, supporting workforce capability, and embedding inclusive, ethical digital practices. Insights from the workshop will inform the development of a national Digital Care Innovation Hub to drive collaboration and sustainable transformation. View resource Previous item Next item

For healthcare innovations to be successful, the voices of those receiving or delivering such innovations need to be heard much earlier in the design process. This is not easy as there are likely to be multiple stakeholders involved, and their different backgrounds make it difficult to challenge or evaluate potential innovation in the early stage of development. This paper positions the Experience Lab as a means of co-creating sustainable, innovative solutions to healthcare challenges. The Experience Lab offers participants, both receiving and delivering healthcare, the opportunity to engage in the design process, share insights, experience new concepts, and imagine new ways of responding to challenges. The material artefacts and bespoke tools provide the conditions through which to create new meanings and shared experiences. This paper presents the Experience Lab approach, artefacts, and tools, providing examples of these in context. < Return to resources Experience Labs: Co-creating Health and Care Innovations using Design Tools and Artefacts French, Tara and Teal, Gemma and Raman, Sneha For healthcare innovations to be successful, the voices of those receiving or delivering such innovations need to be heard much earlier in the design process. This is not easy as there are likely to be multiple stakeholders involved, and their different backgrounds make it difficult to challenge or evaluate potential innovation in the early stage of development. This paper positions the Experience Lab as a means of co-creating sustainable, innovative solutions to healthcare challenges. The Experience Lab offers participants, both receiving and delivering healthcare, the opportunity to engage in the design process, share insights, experience new concepts, and imagine new ways of responding to challenges. The material artefacts and bespoke tools provide the conditions through which to create new meanings and shared experiences. This paper presents the Experience Lab approach, artefacts, and tools, providing examples of these in context. View resource Previous item Next item

This document contains microlearning units to explore meta skills required to cope with future working life. These microlearning materials were collectively produced by lecturers participating in the FUTUREquipped project, and are now made available to any learner under the Creative Commons licence. Units available include: Unit 1: Adaptability Unit 2: Curiosity Unit 3: Creativity (Innovation) Unit 4: Communication (Social Intelligence) Unit 5: Collaboration (Social Skills) < Return to resources Metaskills: Learning Materials - FUTUREquipped Project This document contains microlearning units to explore meta skills required to cope with future working life. These microlearning materials were collectively produced by lecturers participating in the FUTUREquipped project, and are now made available to any learner under the Creative Commons licence. Units available include: Unit 1: Adaptability Unit 2: Curiosity Unit 3: Creativity (Innovation) Unit 4: Communication (Social Intelligence) Unit 5: Collaboration (Social Skills) View resource Previous item Next item

In January 2024, DHI was commissioned by the Scottish Government to develop a Care and Wellbeing Innovation Portfolio, focusing, in particular, on social care innovation. Through engagement with over 20 national organizations, DHI identified key priorities for scaling digital innovation in social care and to lever research and innovation opportunities. The findings emphasise the need for a supportive infrastructure, an innovation pathway, a framework for evaluating impacts, and alignment of ongoing projects. The report outlines steps to advance digital social care innovation across Scotland and shares insight on creating the conditions to foster social care innovation and collaboration across sectors. < Return to resources Digital Innovation in Social Care : Priorities and Opportunities for Scotland Whoriskey, Margaret and Raman, Sneha and Kunte, Aarya and McIntyre, Don In January 2024, DHI was commissioned by the Scottish Government to develop a Care and Wellbeing Innovation Portfolio, focusing, in particular, on social care innovation. Through engagement with over 20 national organizations, DHI identified key priorities for scaling digital innovation in social care and to lever research and innovation opportunities. The findings emphasise the need for a supportive infrastructure, an innovation pathway, a framework for evaluating impacts, and alignment of ongoing projects. The report outlines steps to advance digital social care innovation across Scotland and shares insight on creating the conditions to foster social care innovation and collaboration across sectors. View resource Previous item Next item

This report, commissioned by the Scottish Government's Diet and Healthy Weight Team, provides an overview of digital solutions supporting healthy weight management and type 2 diabetes prevention in the UK in 2021. While no novel solutions were identified, existing options align with Scottish standards and are ready for potential adoption, with examples like the Oviva solution being tested in NHS Tayside. However, further assessment is needed to ensure interoperability with NHS Scotland's infrastructure. < Return to resources Digital Solutions Supporting Healthy Weight Management and the Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Framework Morrison, C. This report, commissioned by the Scottish Government's Diet and Healthy Weight Team, provides an overview of digital solutions supporting healthy weight management and type 2 diabetes prevention in the UK in 2021. While no novel solutions were identified, existing options align with Scottish standards and are ready for potential adoption, with examples like the Oviva solution being tested in NHS Tayside. However, further assessment is needed to ensure interoperability with NHS Scotland's infrastructure. View resource Previous item Next item

Design innovation aims to tackle complex societal challenges through new design practices and bespoke methods of engagement (McAra-McWilliam, 2012). Creative collaboration is a core aspect of design innovation practice, involving diverse stakeholders including academic, business, and civic partners, and importantly end users within the design process. Consequently, the focus of design has shifted from the artefact or outcome to the design of an open and participative process that relies on the direct contextual insight of participants, their creativity and lived experience, and is inclusive of a multiplicity of perspectives. Through examples, we discuss the tools, artefacts and activities that support participants to meaningfully engage with ideas, and strategies for curating groups and managing collaboration. We share design learning regarding engagement and the resulting impact on people, processes, and outcomes, and consider how this approach may be applied in other contexts to foster engagement. < Return to resources Fostering engagement through creative collaboration Teal, Gemma and French, Tara and Hepburn, Leigh-Anne and Raman, Sneha Design innovation aims to tackle complex societal challenges through new design practices and bespoke methods of engagement (McAra-McWilliam, 2012). Creative collaboration is a core aspect of design innovation practice, involving diverse stakeholders including academic, business, and civic partners, and importantly end users within the design process. Consequently, the focus of design has shifted from the artefact or outcome to the design of an open and participative process that relies on the direct contextual insight of participants, their creativity and lived experience, and is inclusive of a multiplicity of perspectives. Through examples, we discuss the tools, artefacts and activities that support participants to meaningfully engage with ideas, and strategies for curating groups and managing collaboration. We share design learning regarding engagement and the resulting impact on people, processes, and outcomes, and consider how this approach may be applied in other contexts to foster engagement. View resource Previous item Next item