Wider RDS developments

Word to Web conversion 

The development of this tool is now almost complete, and the team has presented to SIGN and a team from Public Services Delivery Scotland (previously NSS) to discuss how it will work with their national guidelines. 

If you are working with national guidelines and would be interested in finding out more about Word to Web conversion, get in touch with Maria at maria.cordero2@nhs.scot 

Improving searching, browsing and notifications for medicines information 

User acceptance testing has now been completed for the medicines browse functionality and will begin soon for the medicines search tool. The notification functionality is currently undergoing internal testing with Tactuum. 

The project team have also begun to outline the process of indexing RDS content relating to medicines. This indexing will underpin the search, browse and notification functionalities and will make finding medicines information on the RDS more efficient and consistent. 

Patient Reported Outcome and Experience Measures (PROMs/PREMs) platform 

Preparations for the platform pilots are well underway, with groups from NHS Lothian and Tayside looking to use the platform in their services later this summer. The team are also in discussion about potential future pilot groups involving the GP walk-in centres and the Scan for Safety program. 

The RDS team are working closely with Tactuum to establish the data linkage process that will shape the patient-level dashboard, built using PowerBI. 

Please get in touch with maria.cordero2@nhs.scot if you have any questions or thoughts on this work. 

Development is progressing on the standalone web app and planning continues with NHS Tayside and PSDS colleagues around integration of this decision support into primary care electronic health record systems. The RDS team is supporting the multi-country community of practice for this European project and has completed an option appraisal for a digital platform that will provide equal support for patients, healthcare professionals, researchers and other stakeholders across all three countries. 

The University of Dundee has completed the first phase of analysis of the impact of this decision support system on high risk prescribing in NHS Tayside and NHS Lothian. A final report is due at the end of June 2026. 

A detailed plan for the Right Decision Service contribution to this programme over the next two years is being prepared with partners in the Digital Health and Care Innovation Centre, to support the new pathways to be developed by NHS Lothian and NHS Lanarkshire.  

Please get in touch with ann.wales3@nhs.scot if you would like to discuss any of these developments.