Digital transformation hampered by budgets, NHS pressures and poor IT infrastructure

NHS trusts are being held back from further and faster digital transformation of services by limited budgets, day-to-day pressures and inadequate IT infrastructure, a new survey by NHS Providers shows.

Now leaders are calling for a step-change in support to drive the digital revolution including long-term, sustainable, strategic investment so they can make the most of new technology.

The survey, Digital transformation survey 2024: challenges, opportunities and priorities for trust leaders, found welcome progress has been made implementing advanced technologies, including electronic patient records, better cyber security and enhancing staff skills.

But trust leaders warn that their efforts to unlock the potential of digital to boost productivity and to improve patient safety and the experiences of staff and service users are hampered by several barriers. The survey findings include:

• 73% of trust leaders surveyed said funding and financial constraints were a barrier
• 50% of trust leaders said operational pressures were affecting clinical engagement, training and technology take-up
• 35% of trust leaders identified poor wi-fi, computers and other infrastructure problems as a barrier to progress

The survey coincides with the relaunch of NHS Providers’ Digital Boards programme which offers free, tailored support to NHS trust boards to harness digital opportunities to benefit patients and staff.

The deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery said:

"Far too often, outdated NHS technology adds to clinicians’ workloads instead of giving them more time for patients and hinders, rather than improves efficiency and productivity.

"Digital transformation has huge potential to give patients better access to their data, better access to care and to ensure that staff can get the reliable information they need to inform decision-making and improve quality of care.

"The NHS is under huge strain and chronic underinvestment in digital technology, particularly in community, mental health and social care systems, has left a worrying legacy. We need the government to work with trusts and NHS leaders to remove barriers and to help the health service transform healthcare.

"Trust leaders are committed to making big digital and data advances and NHS Providers is supporting them to do just that through our newly relaunched Digital Boards programme."