Helen Balsdon highlights the need for tech providers to adjust their approach to better support the NHS’s nursing workforce, focusing on usability and practical solutions.
Current Challenges in Digital Healthcare
The NHS’s 500,000-strong nursing workforce faces significant challenges with digital tool implementation, according to Helen Balsdon, the national chief nursing information officer [1]. Lord Darzi’s recent investigation reveals that many NHS staff experience technology as an additional burden rather than a time-saving tool [1]. This insight comes at a crucial time when healthcare digitalization is accelerating, with recent developments such as Teladoc Health’s 70 million acquisition of Catapult Health demonstrating the sector’s rapid evolution [3].
The Call for User-Centered Design
Balsdon emphasizes that technology providers must ‘listen to nurses and midwives and consider the problem before the solution’ [1]. This approach is particularly crucial as recent findings from NHS England’s electronic patient record usability survey highlight the need for better alignment between technology solutions and clinical needs [1]. The 2024 digital maturity assessment survey indicates positive progress, showing an increase in the average seniority of CNIO roles across England [1], potentially leading to better representation of nursing needs in technology decisions.
Building Multidisciplinary Leadership
A key strategy emerging from Balsdon’s recommendations is the establishment of multidisciplinary digital leadership teams [1]. ‘We are stronger together,’ Balsdon states, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between CNIOs and chief nurses to achieve digital transformation goals [1]. This collaborative approach is particularly relevant as the NHS has recently completed a consultation to outline expectations and training requirements for digital nurse/midwife specialists [1].
Future Directions and Implementation
The momentum for digital transformation in healthcare continues to build, with upcoming events such as Digital Health Rewired 2025 at the NEC Birmingham on March 18-19 [1] providing platforms for further discussion. These developments come alongside broader NHS digital initiatives, including the recent launch of a ‘common front door’ into secure data environments [3], demonstrating a comprehensive approach to healthcare digitalization. The focus remains on creating solutions that address real clinical problems while ensuring technology serves as an enabler rather than a barrier to effective patient care [1].