Scotland's digital health and care priorities after the 2026 elections: what members need to know
On 15 June 2026, techUK's Health and Social Care Programme hosted Jonathan Cameron, Deputy Director for Digital Health and Care at the Scottish Government, for a members-only briefing on Scotland's digital health and care priorities following the Scottish Parliament elections.
On 15 June 2026, techUK's Health and Social Care Programme hosted Jonathan Cameron, Deputy Director for Digital Health and Care at the Scottish Government, for a members-only briefing on Scotland's digital health and care priorities following the Scottish Parliament elections. Beyond the update itself, the session offered a clear picture of where the Scottish market is heading, and how members can position themselves within it.
The first message for members is continuity. With the SNP returned as the largest party and John Swinney re-elected as First Minister, the strategic architecture set out before the election, the Population Health Framework 2025–2035, the Operational Improvement Plan and the Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework, remains the reference point. The ambitions are unchanged: improving access to treatment, a long-term focus on prevention, shifting the balance of care into communities and homes, and a stronger digital-first approach across all health and care services.
What has sharpened is the emphasis on execution. Jonathan was candid that the priority for this parliamentary term is "delivery, delivery, delivery", a recognition that Scotland's challenge is less about strategy and more about converting well-established ambitions into services people use. For industry, that is significant: the propositions most likely to resonate are those that help close the implementation gap, supporting adoption, integration, workforce change and benefits realisation, rather than standalone technology pitches.
The centrepiece of the briefing was MyCare.scot, Scotland's digital front door, now live for users aged 18 and over with secure sign-in through ScotAccount. Users can currently view medications, allergies, and COVID and flu vaccinations, alongside demographic information and a service finder, with appointments and a digital mailbox rolling out later in 2026. Also en route is proxy access, targeted reminders, Near Me and primary care appointments, and incremental additions to the record, running to the end of the decade.
Members will naturally compare MyCare with the NHS App in England, which is further ahead on functionality. But the more useful framing is differentiation: Scotland has deliberately built a single service spanning health, social work and social care, developed with COSLA. The pay-off for that broader scope is a longer runway and, importantly for suppliers, MyCare should be understood as a long-term national platform onto which services will progressively plug in, rather than a finished product.
The same logic applies to the Digital Health and Care Record, now underpinned by the Care Reform (Scotland) Act 2025, which gives Ministers powers to mandate information standards across health and social care. Interoperability and standards conformance are moving from good practice to statutory expectation. Suppliers who can demonstrate alignment with Scottish data standards and integration with national platforms will be strongly advantaged.
Jonathan's emphasis on a national approach, cross-public-sector working and a focus on delivery reflects a genuine structural shift. The creation of Public Services Delivery Scotland in April 2026, bringing together NHS Education for Scotland and National Services Scotland with digital transformation as a core focus, consolidates national delivery capability. The direction of travel is towards fewer, larger, nationally coordinated procurements rather than board-by-board engagement.
For members, the practical implications are threefold. First, prioritise national relationships and routes to market, including Public Contracts Scotland and national frameworks. Second, watch the emerging pipeline: digital prescribing and dispensing (DPDP), the Connect Me remote monitoring successor, and national programmes across GP IT, laboratories and imaging all signal near-term opportunity. Third, SMEs should make active use of innovation pathways CivTech, the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre and related routes, which are designed to bring smaller innovators into a nationalising market.
On AI, Scotland's approach is ambitious but deliberately careful. The forthcoming AI framework for the safe, efficient and ethical application of AI across services, sitting alongside Scotland's AI Strategy 2026–2031, signals that the government wants to move at pace on automation and innovation, particularly to relieve workforce pressure, but within a trusted, safety-first framework aligned with UK-wide regulation. Members developing AI propositions should engage early and frame them around safe implementation, not just capability.
To get involved in our work on digital health and care in Scotland, visit the Health and Social Care Programme page or contact the team.
Robert Walker
Head of Health & Social Care, techUK
Robert Walker
Head of Health & Social Care, techUK
Robert joined techUK in October 2022, where he is now Programme Manager for Health and Social Care.
Robert previously worked at the Pension Protection Fund, within the policy and public affairs team. Prior to this, he worked at the Scottish Parliament, advising politicians and industry stakeholders on a wide range of issues, including rural crime and health policies.
Robert has a degree in Politics and International Relations (MA Hons) from the University of Aberdeen, with a particular focus on strategic studies and energy security. Outside of work he enjoys activities such as running, rugby, boxing and cooking!
Rachel joined techUK in December 2024, as a Programme Manager in the Health and Social Care team.
Prior to this, Rachel worked at a specialist health and social care public affairs agency, working with a range of organisations and trade bodies across the medical technology, pharmaceutical, digital health and social care sectors. As well as this, Rachel was part of the Secretariat for a number of health and care related All-Party Parliamentary Groups.
Rachel has a Masters in Global Governance and Diplomacy from the University of Leeds, as well as a first-class honours in Politics BA from Newcastle University.
Lewis Stewart
Programme Manager ‑ Health and Social Care, techUK
Lewis Stewart
Programme Manager ‑ Health and Social Care, techUK
Lewis brings a multidisciplinary background spanning health policy, stakeholder engagement, digital innovation, and elite sport. A former Commonwealth Games champion, he draws on the resilience, adaptability, and team-driven mindset gained through years of high-performance competition.
Before joining techUK, Lewis supported a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons, where he led on constituency engagement and produced evidence-based research to inform debates, committee work, and policy advocacy. He has also helped shape youth wellbeing policy through the Youth Sport Trust, collaborating with government, education, and grassroots networks to drive impact.
Lewis has played key roles in health tech and mobility startups, helping to bring innovative solutions to market and improve user experience in complex systems. With a degree in Biochemistry and Pharmacology, he combines analytical thinking with a passion for evidence-led, people-centred change.
Junior Programme Manager, Health and Care Team, techUK
Viola Pastorino
Junior Programme Manager, Health and Care Team, techUK
Viola Pastorino is a policy, governance, and strategic communication specialist.
She joined techUK as the Junior Programme Manager in the Health and Care Team in April 2024.
She has obtained a Bachelor of Sciences in Governance, Economics, and Development from Leiden University, and a Master's programme in Strategic Communications at King's College London. Her academic background, leading up to a dissertation on AI policy influence and hands-on campaign development, is complemented by practical experience in international PR and grassroots project management.
She is skilled in qualitative and quantitative analysis and comfortable communicating findings to varying stakeholders. Above all, she is deeply passionate about the intersection of technology and government, especially how technology and global discourse shape one another, the processes that lead to belief polarisation and radicalisation of communities, and crafting strategic narratives that steer public discourse.
Outside of work she loves reading, live music light operation, and diving.
Health and Social Care Programme activities
techUK is helping its members navigate the complex space of digital health in the UK to ensure our NHS and social care sector is prepared for the challenges of the future. We help validate new ideas and build impactful strategies, ultimately ensuring that members are market-ready. Visit the programme page here.
New techUK white paper: Why digital adult social care transformation is central to the future of the NHS
The technology to deliver the NHS 10-Year Plan's ambitions already exists — what's missing is the coordination layer to deploy it at scale. techUK's flagship white paper, developed through the Social Care Working Group, argues that predictive monitoring, interoperable records, AI-enabled decision support and digital telecare are mature capabilities ready to act on now, using existing funding through NHS prevention budgets, the Better Care Fund and Section 75 flexibilities.
techUK's Reimagining CareTech focus week brings together policymakers, NHS and local government leaders, care providers and technology suppliers around one shared question: how do we turn the ambitions of the NHS 10-Year Plan into delivery on the ground? Set against the backdrop of the Casey Commission, local government reorganisation and the accelerating shift from analogue to digital, the week surfaces practical insight, evidence and perspectives from across the sector.
Explore how technology is transforming adult social care, from digital innovation to service delivery at scale. Hear from leaders across the sector on priorities, challenges and practical solutions improving outcomes for people and providers. Join the conversation to understand where caretech is delivering impact and what comes next.
Our members develop strong networks, build meaningful partnerships and grow their businesses as we all work together to create a thriving environment where industry, government and stakeholders come together to realise the positive outcomes tech can deliver.
