The NHS Digital Academy’s contribution to the ‘Analogue to Digital’ shift

The NHS Digital Academy were asked to lead a session at a workshop on 31 January which focused on the Workforce, Training and Education Directorate at NHS England’s contribution to an ‘analogue to digital’ shift to inform the 10 Year Health Plan.

The growing significance of digital skills within the NHS was highlighted, with 98% NHS staff expecting to enhance their digital capabilities over the next five years.

The case was made that Workforce, Training and Education will be key to successfully transitioning the NHS from analogue to digital systems.

The Digital Academy took the opportunity to promote our role in developing digital skills for the NHS workforce including our efforts to build digital confidence, support digital roles, and cultivate digital leadership.

Key factors to be alive to were:

• The importance of Digital Skills: Digital skills are becoming increasingly vital for NHS staff, with nearly all employees expecting to upskill in the next five years
• Workforce Training: training and education are critical for ensuring the success of the NHS's transition to digital systems. While digital tools are becoming integrated into everyday work, current usage is not as effective as it could be and both the quality and amount of training is having a significant impact
• Learning Needs Analysis: The Digital Academy conducted a learning needs analysis early last year, which highlighted the reasons staff stated were impacting their ability to extract the greatest value from digital technologies
• Challenges in Digital Adoption: workforce-related issues, rather than technology, is the primary barrier to digital adoption, indicating that better training and education at levels all through the NHS, could enhance the digital experience for NHS staff
• Strategic Discussion: A comprehensive discussion is needed about how workforce training and education contribute to the digital agenda in a coordinated way across teams

Digital Transformation challenges

Common pitfalls in digital transformation, including workforce issues, cultural barriers, and skill gaps, were discussed. The link between staff satisfaction and ‘end benefits’ such as patient safety and productivity was highlighted as well as the impact of poor staff satisfaction with digital tools, namely staff burnout.

Key challenges include:

• Failure of Digital Transformations: many digital transformations (~70%) fail to deliver the intended benefits, primarily due to workforce challenges, cultural issues, and skill deficits
• Visible Leadership: Strong, visible leadership is essential for driving successful digital transformation, improving user satisfaction, and ensuring proper implementation
• Training and Education: Effective training and education are key to overcoming workforce barriers, ensuring that staff can use digital tools effectively
• User Satisfaction and Burnout: Data shows that user satisfaction with digital tools directly impacts staff burnout. Poor experiences with digital systems can also contribute to reduced productivity and safety
• Learning Needs Analysis: The Digital Academy's learning needs analysis, which identified outdated technology, lack of confidence, and insufficient training as major obstacles to effective digital adoption

Digital perspective on workforce

The importance of workforce engagement in digital transformation was recognised as vital, including the need for change management, standardisation, and improved usability to support digital maturity and workforce needs.

Key areas identified:

• Workforce Importance: the success of digital transformation relies on a well-engaged workforce, highlighting their central role in ensuring successful adoption
• Change Management: Effective change management is crucial for ensuring new technologies are embraced and used effectively
• Standardisation: Standardising digital tools and processes is key to improving usability and interoperability, helping streamline the adoption process
• Usability Issues: Addressing usability challenges in digital tools is essential for improving satisfaction and supporting staff in using them effectively
• Digital Maturity: Improving digital maturity within the NHS is critical for better outcomes, increased efficiency, and stronger workforce support
• Electronic Patient Record (EPR) implementation: England compares poorly to the rest of the world in terms of user satisfaction of EPRs, scoring in the bottom decile

Breakout room activities

Seven ideas were articulated by the group. These ideas were:

1. Getting the basics right: experts on hand, on the ground, to support staff when new technology is rolled out
2. EPR training for students, as part of the simulated learning offered at university (Undergraduate level)
3. Digital literacy training for Human Resources and Organisational Development teams to support the transformation of people services
4. Learning module for staff on when and how to use Artificial Intelligence safely and ethically in their work
5. Ensure digital skills and understanding is embedded in curriculum for healthcare learners
6. Rationalise digital systems
7. Digital red book for NHS staff - a personal, transferable learning record for all

An exploration of priorities and themes will be explored with the potential of a follow up session being considered.