How to use the DTAC
For buyers and those considering digital health technologies
Digital health technologies that are being considered by NHS or social care organisations should be assessed against the Digital Technology Assessment Criteria (DTAC), regardless of procurement route, by the NHS or social care organisation that is buying the product.
To assess the product, you will need to ask the developer to complete the DTAC by responding to the question set and providing the evidence required.
Embedding the DTAC question set within procurement and due diligence processes will ensure that products can be assessed quickly, consistently and that only those that meet baseline safety are adopted and scaled thus providing safeguards in critical areas.
DTAC does not seek to introduce new requirements for the procurement of technology. It brings together legislation and recognised good practice into one place covering clinical safety, data protection, technical assurance, interoperability and usability and accessibility.
The DTAC also includes company information and value proposition sections for context. Each of the scored and assessed sections contain:
- a reference code for each question
- the question for the developer to respond to
- whether evidence is required and is so the evidence
- response options or free text
- supporting information and guidance
- scoring criteria
It is important, as with any procurement, that those with relevant subject matter expertise are involved in the assessment of digital health technologies, for example the clinical safety section.
Whilst DTAC is intended to be a ‘one size fits all’ baseline criteria in terms of safety and security it is intended to be part of procurement - it is not intended to be the complete question set for procurements and should be supplemented with additional specifications including any policy and regulatory requirements. Those buying digital health technologies should also ensure that they consider efficacy and the impact and evidence of such technologies. NHSX is working with NICE to build on the Evidence Standards Framework for digital health technologies. This is a framework that describes the level of evidence needed to demonstrate effectiveness and value for digital technologies that have different functions and risks.
NHSX holds regular sessions for buyers and those considering buying digital health technologies on the application of the DTAC. If you would like to book into a session please contact dnhsx@nhsx.nhs.uk
For developers and innovators
We want to encourage all developers to review the DTAC to make sure your product is “DTAC ready”. Your product should be assessed at the point of commissioning, and this may be through a procurement exercise with a trust or a commissioner. Or if your product is part of a national initiative, for example an NHSX digital playbook, it may be assessed through our centrally funded team.
Having a consistent question set and standard is the first step to enable developers to present the same consistent and proportionate set of evidence to organisations buying digital health technologies.
You can find further guidance and support in A guide to good practice for digital and data-driven health technologies published by the NHS AI Lab.