PublicTechnology.net

That the long-awaited digital strategy has fallen by the wayside is not a surprise, but ministers must move to demonstrate their commitment to digital quickly, writes PublicTechnology's online editor Rebecca Hill. 

Jos Creese, independent digital consultant and principal Analyst for Eduserv, says that technology should promote fundamental change in our care services – and argues that this is the responsibility of everyone from local providers to central government. 

Public services are in for a tough decade, facing constrained budgets and political upheaval. But Nesta’s Matt Stokes argues that governments must take advantage of the collaborative economy to change the way they tackle social challenges.

The government needs a unified approach to front and back office functions if it wants to make the cost savings digital promises, argues Jane Roberts of TopLevel.

With current approaches to Scotland’s social services labelled unsustainable, and health care similarly under pressure, Tom Morton of Communicare247 urges providers to realise the potential for digital technology now.

The digital revolution in US states and cities is not likely to grind to a halt following Trump’s election, but your take on his win will depend on how you view the sands of time, says David Walker.

A lot has been promised to the public on city devolution and the price of failure is high. Eddie Copeland, director of government innovation at Nesta, argues that joining up data across those regions is one basic way to give the plans a fighting chance of success.

Artificial intelligence could transform the public sector, but adoption has been slow. As the Government Office for Science publishes its report into the subject, Richard Sargent, director of ASI and former performance lead at the Government Digital Service, says leadership and culture will be crucial for success.

Reading between the lines of official government digital standards and policies might help you make out the horrors that led to their creation, but it's rare that acts of self-harm are called out, says the Department of Health's Dan Sheldon. Here, he calls on departments to stop doing this to themselves, and argues in favour of...

The new government is focused on Brexit, and Theresa May and Philip Hammond have not yet voiced their support for making government digital – but Daniel Thornton, co-author of the Institute for Government's in-depth report on digital transformation, says the potential for savings is huge.

As the UK moves closer to seeing autonomous vehicles on its roads, Antonios Tsourdos, an engineer at Cranfield University, says the government must not forget the importance of public acceptance of the technology.

As the UK’s first director general for digital heads for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, and the Government Digital Service struggles to maintain its footing at the centre, David Walker asks what the reality is for government digital.

Gareth Ricketts, the health sector lead for Updata, says the new health and social care network has the potential to transform NHS services for the future - but first there needs to be more communication of the change.

Digital technology offer charities a wealth of options. But Tris Lumley of think-tank New Philanthropy Capital says that they should heed advice from the Government Digital Service and take user-centric approach to transformation.

Jane Roberts strategy director at Toplevel and asks whether more clarity is needed to stop departments from tying themselves in knots over what kind of ‘open’ to use.

Debra Maxwell, chief executive officer for customer relationship management and public sector at Arvato, looks at how big data can help local authorities bring in more revenue.

Bob Wachter’s recommendations for digitising the NHS are measured, realistic and long-term, but could still fail without doctors’ buy-in, argues David Walker.

Lincolnshire Health and Care’s Gary James explains how the county’s new integrated Care Portal system aims to transform healthcare for an ageing and widely dispersed population.

Mark Skilton of Warwick Business School says that the opening of Microsoft’s three UK data centres marks another step on the road to full public sector adoption of cloud computing in the country.

Martin Ferguson, Socitm’s director of policy and research, says that the review of health information technology led by clinician and IT expert Bob Wachter has missed the opportunity to include local government perspectives. 

Chris White, head of digital solutions at Capita Software Services, looks at how councils can use single sign-on citizen portals to improve services and support vulnerable residents.