May 2025 RDS newsletter now available. Expand this announcement to view.
Welcome to the May 2025 update from the RDS team
1. RDS deployments
Three small-scale releases took place during April and May, including the following fixes and improvements:
Applying moderate severity security patch to Umbraco.
Fixes to:
Random ordering of tiles on mobile app
Simultaneous issuing of multiple copies of content review alerts
Content display on mobile app for the left hand menu navigation option
Whitelisting of Jotforms outcomes pages so that recommendations for action can be displayed following completion of a form or calculation.
2. RDS performance
Two short outages took place on the mornings of 12th and 22nd May. Tactuum is still investigating the root cause and will report on this shortly.
3. Redesign of Gentamicin and Vancomycin calculator interfaces
New designs have been produced which make the health board name and calculator title clear to the user on these calculator pages, with a warning message and link to ensure users access the right calculator for their board. These designs have been implemented in a test environment and are now under review.
4. RDS Redesign, archiving and version control
We now plan to release at end of July 2025 the following major enhancements: redesigned Right Decision Service homepage, new search and browse interface, upgraded archiving and version control, and capability to edit content adopted from the Shared Content Library. We will provide slides and demos in advance of the release to introduce users and editors to the new functionality.
5. Training sessions for RDS editors
Introductory webinars for RDS editors will take place on:
Monday 16 June 12.30-1.30 pm
Tuesday 24 June 3.45-4.45 pm
Running usage statistics reports using Google analytics
Wednesday 11th June: 2-3pm
To book a place on any of these webinars, please contact Olivia.graham@nhs.scot providing your name, role, organisation, title and date of the webinar you wish to attend.
6.New RDS toolkits
The following toolkits were launched during March 2025:
Work is progressing on a number of decision support systems that are part of the wider Right Decision Service platform, beyond the web and mobile apps:
The Patient Reported Outcome Measures system. A minimum viable product version will be available for functional testing by key stakeholders at end of July.
Pharmacogenomics decision support as an extension of the current high risk prescribing decision support integrated with primary care electronic health record systems. This is part of a European research and innovation project.
Planned Date of Discharge decision support system to be tested in NHS Lanarkshire. Will undergo user acceptance testing in July with a view to piloting from November.
8. Implementation projects
Public library services in Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow Life, Angus, Falkirk and Stirling have come forward to work with the RDS team, the Scottish Library and Information Council and local Realistic Medicine leads, to develop their role in engaging citizens in Realistic Medicine. This includes promoting the Being a partner in my care app: Realistic Medicine Together. This provides tools and resources to support conversations about what matters to the person, shared decision-making and self-management.
If you have any questions about the content of this newsletter, please contact his.decisionsupport@nhs.scot If you would prefer not to receive future newsletters, please email Olivia.graham@nhs.scot and ask to be removed from the circulation list.
Realistic Medicine is an approach to healthcare that aims to put people, including patients and carers, at the centre of decisions made about their care.
When you experience care based on Realistic Medicine you will:
Be confident that your healthcare professional is seeing you as a whole person not just your condition.
Know that your healthcare professionals listen to you and understand what matters to you.
Trust and connect with your healthcare professional.
Feel positive that the care and support you receive will deliver what matters most to you.
Be able to take part in decisions about your health and wellbeing
Be able to access information, advice and community support that meets your needs and preferences
Have support to understand your options for treatment.
This video explains more about Realistic Medicine and how it supports care based on what matters to you.
Shared decision-making
Shared decision making puts you at the centre of your care. It empowers you to make a choice based on information about your options and what works best for you. It moves us away from the "doctor knows best" approach. It replaces this with a partnership between you and your health or care professional. This partnership requires more conversations about treatment and care choices.
These conversations should help you to understand the risks and benefits of different options.
This video explains more about shared decision-making.
Building a personalised approach to care
It’s important that health and care professionals take time to understand you and your needs. We will listen to what matters to you and your family. We will learn about what outcomes are important to you. We will also build trust to improve your health and care.
This video explains more about personalised care.
Managing risk better
Receiving health and care may come with some risk. Talking with your health or care professional helps you learn about the risks. Your attitude to risk will vary based on your values, beliefs, and circumstances. This means that open and honest discussions with your health or care professional about the risks and benefits of options are key. This means you are less likely to regret your treatment.
This video explains more about managing risk better.
Reducing harm and waste
Most treatments and procedures come with a risk of harm. So, it is important you know the risks and benefits. This means you might decide on another course of action, or choose to do nothing for now. Engaging in the decision-making process increases your chances of getting the treatment that best suits you. It lowers your risk of harm and saves resources.
This video explains more about reducing harm and waste.
Being innovators and improvers
Healthcare professionals need to improve services and adopt appropriate innovations. Realistic Medicine means that we will work together to do this. We will also listen to you to understand your health and care needs. In this way, we can better understand how technology and new ways of doing things can help.
This video explains more about innovating and improving services
Tackling unwarranted variation
If you get unnecessary treatment, it can cause you harm and waste resources.. Preventing harm and waste from overuse and overtreatment can save resources. We can then use these resources to provide care where it is needed. This will help us to make sure healthcare is fair for everyone, no matter where they live or who they are. Getting good information helps you choose options that are right for you. This can help reduce unwarranted variation.
This video explains more about tackling unwarranted variation
Value-based health and care
Value-based health and care is about changing the way that health services work. To be sustainable for the future, services need to focus on the outcomes that matter to people. It involves delivering care and support at the lowest possible cost when building on people’s strengths and targeting support at what really makes a difference.
This video explains more about value-based health and care.
More about Realistic Medicine
Realistic Medicine is a key set of principles that are driving health services to deliver care centred on people's individual needs.
In this videoclip, Professor Gregor Smith, Chief Medical Officer, speaks to Sara Redmond, Chief Officer in the ALLIANCE, about what Realistic Medicine is, and how it empowers individuals.
The second video features a second interview, this time withALLIANCE Lead for Caring and Outreach, Tommy Whitelaw and Realistic Medicine Clinical Lead for Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Dr Jude Marshall. The discussion looks at the work going on in Glasgow to implement Realistic Medicine and how patients can get more involved in decisions around their own care.
Being a partner in my care: Realistic Medicine together
