Scotland’s flagship digital health and social care conference, DigiFest, is back in-person this December — and it’s all about driving a bold, ‘digital first’ mindset to tackle the country’s biggest health and social care challenges.
It’s more than just an event. For many, DigiFest 2025 could mark a turning point for how Scotland reimagines care — with innovation, people, and community right at its heart.
A Stage for Scotland’s Big Ideas
There’s a reason people keep an eye on DigiFest. It’s where some of Scotland’s most ambitious ideas first get airtime. This year, the University of Strathclyde’s Technology and Innovation Centre in Glasgow will host leaders, clinicians, tech whizzes, researchers, and policymakers under one roof.
One major headline? The spotlight on the Digital Front Door — a £27 million national programme aiming to become Scotland’s one-stop online gateway for health and social care. With a phased rollout planned for late 2025, insiders say it could reshape how people find and use services.
Professor George Crooks OBE, CEO of DHI, didn’t mince his words: “To ensure sustainability and improve outcomes, we must lead with a digital first mindset — embracing innovation, not fearing it.”
No surprise, then, that the Service Renewal Framework — the government’s blueprint for modernising health and care — will take centre stage too. Its five principles: prevention, people, community, population, and digital.
Digital Lifelines: Small Devices, Big Impact
Not every innovation grabs headlines with huge budgets. Take Digital Lifelines Scotland (DLS). It’s a lifeline in the truest sense.
Run by DHI with partners like SCVO and Simon Community Scotland, DLS helps people affected by drug use get online, stay connected, and access vital support. Since launch:
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5,502 people reached
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3,044 digital devices distributed
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518 staff and volunteers trained in digital inclusion
That’s real-world impact. And it’s delivered through 35 organisations in six rounds of funding. For many, it’s meant a mobile phone that helps them attend virtual therapy or a tablet that keeps them in touch with loved ones.
“It’s about more than devices — it’s about trust,” says a volunteer who’s seen first-hand how connectivity opens doors that once felt shut.
Bringing Everyone to the Table
DigiFest isn’t just policy talk and PowerPoints. It’s a meeting point for folks who don’t always get the chance to swap ideas face to face.
Kevin O’Sullivan, Editor of Futurescot, sums it up: “Bringing the right people together at the right time is the most powerful tool for change.”
This year’s agenda is shaped by a cross-sector panel including:
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NHS Scotland
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Scottish Care
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Universities and researchers
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Medical Device Manufacturing Centre
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Digital Office for Scottish Local Government
One minute you’re hearing about AI in community health. The next, you’re deep in a case study on housing associations supporting vulnerable tenants with digital care plans.
And there’s genuine optimism that these conversations don’t stay on stage — they fuel projects back home.
What’s Actually Happening on the Ground?
For all the strategy talk, people want to know: is this real change or just wishful thinking?
Scotland’s Service Renewal Framework says transformation should be built on digital. That’s easy to say. But it’s the local pilot projects that show it in action.
Here’s a quick look at some figures worth noting:
| Programme | Devices Given | People Supported | Staff Trained |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Lifelines Scotland | 3,044 | 5,502 | 518 |
| Digital Front Door* | Rollout 2025 | Nationwide | TBC |
*Projected data for Digital Front Door rollout.
A housing association in Dundee is testing smart sensors to monitor heating and dampness, cutting down hospital visits for older tenants. In the Highlands, GPs are trialling virtual triage, helping patients get advice faster and saving hours of travel.
Sure, they’re small steps. But many argue they’re exactly the kind of test beds Scotland needs.
Hopes and Headwinds
Of course, not everyone’s convinced a digital fix is the magic bullet. Some frontline staff worry about burnout, the digital skills gap, and patients who feel left behind.
One GP in Glasgow put it bluntly: “It can’t just be digital for digital’s sake. We need funding for people too.”
Yet many feel DigiFest’s strength is in airing these tensions honestly. The big idea? Listen, adapt, and make digital work for everyone, not just the tech-savvy.
There’s also the issue of rural access. From Shetland to the Borders, reliable broadband still isn’t a given. For people with patchy Wi-Fi, a national digital front door might feel a world away.
Still, the mood music is clear: Scotland’s leaders want to make sure the digital revolution doesn’t leave anyone standing at the threshold.
Why December Matters
The timing couldn’t be sharper. December’s gathering will follow a year when the NHS has grappled with record waiting lists, staffing shortages, and budget squeezes.
In that context, the call to “lead with a digital first mindset” feels less like a slogan and more like a survival plan.
Some say it’s also a rallying cry to look beyond quick fixes. If Scotland can get this right — blending digital tools with community-led care — it could become a model for others.
What happens in Glasgow this December won’t solve everything overnight. But for thousands working at the sharp end of care, it’s a chance to show that big ideas, small devices, and new ways of thinking really can reshape lives.
