🚨 Most Digital Health Tools Fail DTAC — Here’s Why (And How to Fix It)

If you’re selling or piloting a digital health product into the NHS, passing the Digital Technology Assessment Criteria - DTAC - is no longer optional, it’s your gatekeeper.

And yet, most vendors don’t even know what the five core domains are, let alone how to meet them.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what the NHS expects — and where most teams fall short:

✅ The 5 DTAC Domains You Must Get Right:

1. Clinical Safety
   You need a named Clinical Safety Officer and documented compliance with DCB0129. Templates alone won’t cut it.

2. Data Protection
   You must complete a DPIA and demonstrate GDPR compliance — including lawful basis, subject rights, and UK-specific hosting.

3. Technical Security
   Cyber Essentials PLUS is now the baseline, not the bonus. NHS expects demonstrable technical controls — encryption, access logging, incident response.

4. Interoperability
   HL7 FHIR, open APIs, and integration with NHS Spine are increasingly expected. If your tool is a silo, expect pushback.

5. Usability and Accessibility
   You must meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards and provide user testing evidence, especially if your product is patient-facing.

🧠 Our Advice?

Don’t leave DTAC to the last minute. Build it into your product lifecycle. Document as you go. And audit yourself before NHS buyers do.

We offer a Fast-Track DTAC Toolkit and advisory support.