The King’s Speech: Why DSPT Matters More Than Ever in Care

The King’s Speech placed cyber security, digital identity and public service modernisation firmly within the context of national resilience and economic security. While adult social care was not directly referenced, the direction of travel is clear and it has important implications for providers across Devon, Torbay and Plymouth.

For care providers, these developments sit very closely alongside existing expectations around the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT), information governance, and safe digital working practices.

At DCHC, we continue to support providers locally to understand and meet these requirements, helping make the DSPT more manageable, practical, and relevant to day-to-day care delivery.

A stronger focus on cyber security and resilience

One of the most significant announcements was the proposed Cyber Security and Resilience Bill.

This is expected to strengthen cyber security requirements for organisations delivering essential services and increase expectations around incident reporting, risk management, and digital resilience.

For adult social care providers, this aligns closely with existing DSPT requirements and could further shape expectations around:

• Cyber security preparedness and staff awareness
• Incident reporting and response processes
• Ransomware prevention and recovery planning
• Business continuity and service continuity arrangements
• Assurance of IT suppliers and digital partners
• Expectations within NHS and local authority contracts

The direction of travel is clear: cyber security is no longer just an IT issue, but a core part of safe, high-quality care delivery.

DSPT at the heart of safe digital care

The DSPT remains the key framework for demonstrating that care providers are meeting their data security and protection responsibilities.

As digital systems become more embedded in care, whether through shared care records, digital social care records, or communication with NHS partners, the importance of completing and maintaining the DSPT continues to grow.

The themes in the King’s Speech reinforce what providers are already working towards through DSPT:

• protecting sensitive personal and health data
• reducing cyber risk across increasingly connected systems
• ensuring staff understand their responsibilities
• maintaining trust with people receiving care and support
• strengthening resilience across the sector

NHS modernisation and joined-up care

The proposed NHS Modernisation Bill reflects an ongoing push towards more integrated, efficient and data-enabled health and care services.

For adult social care, this is particularly relevant given the continued focus on:

• smoother hospital discharge processes
• improved information sharing between health and care
• neighbourhood health and multidisciplinary working
• reducing delays caused by fragmented systems

However, providers continue to report that interoperability and access to timely clinical information remain real challenges in practice.

From a DSPT perspective, secure and appropriate information sharing is central to enabling better joined-up care while maintaining strong data protection standards.

Digital ID and access to services

The proposed Digital Access to Services Bill introducing Digital ID could have longer-term implications for how individuals and staff interact with services.

While details are still limited, potential areas of impact may include:

• identity verification for accessing services
• recruitment and onboarding processes
• access permissions within digital systems
• consent and record-sharing controls

For care providers, this also raises important considerations around digital inclusion, ensuring that people who are less confident with technology are not disadvantaged.

What this means for care providers locally

Across Devon, Torbay and Plymouth, providers are already working hard to meet DSPT requirements, strengthen cyber security, and adopt safer digital practices.

The direction set out in the King’s Speech reinforces that this work will only become more important over time.

Rather than introducing entirely new expectations, it builds on what providers are already doing through DSPT — just with increasing emphasis on resilience, assurance, and secure digital connectivity across health and care systems.

DCHC support is here for you

At DCHC, Sara Small and Carla Selway are on hand to support care providers across Devon, Torbay and Plymouth with the DSPT and wider data security and protection requirements.

We can help with:

• understanding DSPT requirements
• working through evidence
• improving cyber security awareness and practice
• strengthening data protection processes

Our aim is to make the DSPT as practical and accessible as possible, helping providers feel confident in demonstrating good data security practice.

Looking ahead

The King’s Speech sets out a clear direction of travel rather than immediate change. Many of the details will develop through consultation and further legislation.

However, the overall message is consistent, cyber security, digital resilience and secure data sharing are becoming central to how health and care services are expected to operate.

For adult social care, the DSPT will remain a key foundation in meeting these expectations and demonstrating safe, responsible digital practice.

We will continue to support providers locally as these changes evolve.

Read the full King's Speech here

Contact and Support

If you would like support with DSPT, cyber security or data protection queries, please get in touch with the DCHC team.

Direct contact:

• sara.small@devoncarehomes.org
• sara.small1@nhs.net
• carla.selway@devoncarehomes.org

Alternatively, support is also available via the Customer Service Portal*:

• Email: support.digitalservices@nhs.net
• Phone: 0300 303 5035

*Please note: you must already be registered with the DSPT and have your ICO registration in place before contacting the support service.