These were the findings of a report by Audit Wales published yesterday.  

Digital spend

Across 2023-24 and 2024-25, 11 of the 12 NHS bodies reported spending a combined average of around £216m a year on their own digital technology and services. This included the seven health boards, three NHS trusts and Health Education and Improvement Wales.

Most of the spending reported by the 11 NHS bodies went on keeping existing digital services and systems running rather than investing in digital change.

Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW) spent an average of around £191m a year over the same period. Within that, DHCW recharged NHS bodies around £66m a year for national products and services.

The report found that while some funding had been made available specifically for digital investment, it was not enough to meet the demand across NHS Wales

Areas of concern

The report said NHS bodies had clear digital ambitions that broadly aligned with the national strategy most had not translated these ambitions into clear, costed delivery plans with defined actions, responsibilities and success measures.

While finding examples of digital projects that actively considered digital inclusion, including mental health and maternity services, the report stated NHS bodies will need better ways of showing their digital change projects are improving access for those most at risk of exclusion.

In addition, the report found NHS bodies did not generally know enough about the digital skills of their staff and found very low take-up of a national self-assessment tool. Only around 2% of staff of the NHS Wales workforce had completed it.

Cyber security remained due to old technology, training gaps and changing threats.

NHS bodies also struggled to recruit and retain specialist staff in areas such as cyber security, data analysis and digital project delivery. This was especially true where the private sector offered more attractive roles.

Government response

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: ‘Digital and data transformation to modernise our health and care system is a key priority for this new Government. As part of our First 100 Days plan, we have already laid the foundations for our ambitious agenda in this area, which will now be built upon as we implement our programme for Government.

‘We are committed to strengthening national digital services, improving the consistency and interoperability of data sources, enhancing cyber resilience, expanding digital tools available to patients and NHS staff, and embracing innovation such as the responsible use of AI in healthcare.

‘We will consider the report's findings and recommendations alongside work to refresh the NHS Wales Digital and Data Strategy. Digital services must work for everyone, and patients who cannot or choose not to use digital channels will continue to have alternative routes to access care.'