Driving digital delivery with research-backed confidence

Learn more about how a Digital Health Leadership Programme alumnus applied DHLP learning to improve adoption.

Hello, my name is Nina and I work at NHSE in the London Region Digital team. I lead the Regional Frontline Digitisation (now Productivity) programme, which has supported trusts across London to improve their digital capability. A broad range of projects have been delivered through the programme, from implementation of Electronic Patient Records at several trusts to an Ambient Voice Technology pilot across London run by Great Ormond Street. I work closely with the trusts to ensure they get the support they need to implement well.

In addition to supporting these projects across London, I have also been responsible for implementing a project to digitise the Mental Health Act across five mental health trusts in London: the OneLondon eMHA programme.

Building confidence and credibility through DHLP

I have worked on digital programmes in the NHS for well over a decade. My experience ranges from digital programme implementation, support and leadership to oversight and assurance activities. I come from a finance background, having trained with Deloitte as a Chartered Accountant many years ago. As such I always have an eye on the benefits, costs, and productivity when it comes to Digital.

With the strong financial lens that I bring, I did sometimes feel it was hard to be taken seriously as a digital professional. For me, it was time to finally do something about that, and I applied to the DHLP programme. Knowing I now have a formal qualification in Digital Transformation Health Leadership from Imperial College London, one of the most outstanding universities in the world, is a feeling that’s hard to beat. And I can absolutely say that the course didn’t disappoint.

I already had significant real-life exposure to much of the content, but the course brought researched foundations to the experience I had. Being able to apply that research to my work means I am now able to add much more value than before.

Taking on a meaningful implementation challenge

When the course started, I was already responsible for the eMHA project. Amazing colleagues had done a lot of groundwork, but someone needed to get stuck in, rally the troops across several different organisations in London, and drive forward the actual implementation.

I took on the role as the lead for project implementation and have worked tirelessly over the past two years to deliver the programme alongside the demands of my other day job. It has been exhausting but absolutely worth it.

Applying the learning to adoption: getting people to use the tech

The highlight of the course for me was the study of Change management. It’s a topic I have loved since 2017 when, on recommendation from a friend, I read a book called The Heart of Change by John P Kotter. The hardback is always in line of sight in my home office and I highly recommend it. Whilst Kotter’s work featured, the course went further and covered wider research and application of Change Management and Innovation models.

We actively applied some of the models we studied on the eMHA project. For example, our Change methodology was based on the Prosci ADKAR methodology studied during the course. This powerful model is based on understanding that organisational change can only happen when individuals change. We saw very high levels of adoption as a result.

We also used the Double Diamond technique. I found this an invaluable tool to genuinely understand user needs, rather than simply assume. We had a point during the implementation when we struggled with adoption, and this approach helped us identify that the difficulties were not all about product – in fact, the way people work and the training they receive were equally important.

Moving from experience-based opinion to research-grounded leadership

While I am still recovering from a year of giving up much weekend fun for study and I still feel the trauma of endless assignment referencing requirements (noting lack of Prosci footnote) and endless word counts (duly counting 676 words so far), I am proud to be able to say I am part of the DHLP alumni group.

The learning over the year has helped to firmly move my narrative from an experience-based opinion to one grounded in research. As a result, I’m now able to more confidently share my opinion and better steer the direction of travel.

The deep knowledge I have gained in digital transformation means I am not just good with money - I genuinely do know what I am talking about when it comes to Digital as well.

"The learning over the year has helped to firmly move my narrative from an experience-based opinion to one grounded in research."