Scotland plans comprehensive ‘digital refit’ of public services

Sofia Villegas June 19, 2025 in Government and politics, News - 4 Minutes

Following on from the establishment of a new expert body to advise government on tech sector, national leader uses major speech to outline vision of transformation to help meet demand

Scottish Government first minister John Swinney has announced a major tech-powered revamp of Scotland’s public services.

Giving a speech on national renewal at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, the first minister said the “public realm” needed a “near-complete digital refit”.

He said: “We are not going to be able to make the money we have available for public services match the demand for those services unless we ramp up our use of technology”.

He pledged to better integrate technology in the health sector in a bid to streamline access to services, allow for earlier diagnosis and deliver better targeted treatment.

“It will be the cornerstone of a more personalised, efficient and cost-effective NHS moving forward. And fundamentally, it is at the heart of my vision for more person-centred health services,” Swinney added.

Artificial intelligence, data, and wearable devices, are among the technologies at the heart of his plans to “revolutionise healthcare”.

He said: “Progress has been made – for example, I think of efforts around digital dermatology – but it is not extensive enough or rapid enough and that must intensify. Scotland’s public sector should have a digital doorway that matches the very best in the commercial world. That ambition will drive our actions ahead.”

Business minister Richard Lochhead and public finance minister Ivan McKee will lead the first minister’s plan to bring technology into daily use in the NHS.

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Swinney added: “Technology deployed in a way that empowers individuals and communities, that enables our public sector to integrate better, makes it more efficient, and most important of all, facilitates the essential shift to a front-foot focus on prevention as the best means of saving the public purse in the long term.”

His announcement builds on his speech on NHS renewal earlier this year, where he said innovation was key to deliver “smarter and better” care as he confirmed the rollout of the much-anticipated NHS Scotland app, known as the Digital Front Door.

The first minister continued: “I think of the work being done to deliver more targeted public health. That means linking technology, including AI, to local contexts, enabling more effective prediction of risk as well as earlier diagnosis. Technology, including cutting-edge use of genetics, to target interventions more effectively. Professor Anna Dominiczak, our chief scientist for health, tells me that we have a generational opportunity to put Scotland at the forefront of deployment of precision medicine – an approach to healthcare that tailor’s medical treatment to the individual characteristics of each patient. It means a move away from a one-size-fits-all model, helping us ensure the right treatment at the right time for each patient.”

Wise council
The public service digitisation plan forms part of his vision to make Scotland a “forward-looking” and resilient nation.

This will be complemented by the establishment of a new Technology Council – a group of experts that will advise ministers on how to harness the economic benefits of the country’s tech sector.

The council is intended to advise on policymaking, provide a link between businesses and the government, and promote Scottish tech companies internationally, in a bid to make Scotland a world-leading tech nation.

A total of 15 experts will be part of the body, encompassing industry representatives and academics, with a focus on the provision of experience in international markets, including: health and life sciences; financial services; data and artificial intelligence; advanced manufacturing; and space.

Members will include Sheila Flavell, president of techUK, Jim Rowan, former chief executive of Volvo and Dyson, and Catriona Campbell, chair of the Scottish AI Alliance.

Business minister Richard Lochhead will chair the council, which convened for the first time this week.

“Innovation is part of Scotland’s DNA,” he said. “It is embedded in our culture and our society – and it has the potential to turbocharge our economy. From leading the industrial revolution to television, ultrasound and pioneering renewable technology, Scotland’s inventions have helped shape the world around us and transformed industries and lives. Our goal is to help Scotland become a leading tech nation. To ensure the world recognises our pioneering spirit as not just a thing of the past, but as a vital part of our future and to create an environment where businesses and entrepreneurs can flourish, develop new technologies and drive meaningful change.”

The establishment of the group fulfils a commitment set out in the Programme for Government published by ministers last month.