Following Amanda Pritchard’s resignation and statements from Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, the pendulum keeps swinging. Diarmaid Crean – Advisor, Ethical Healthcare Consulting and Thomas Webb – Founder and Chief Executive, Ethical Healthcare Consulting explain how we can stay on course for digital progress.

The NHS is no stranger to reinvention. Over the past few decades, we’ve seen structures shift from Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) to Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), and now Integrated Care Systems (ICSs). 

Following Amanda Pritchard’s resignation and statements from Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, the pendulum keeps swinging, but the fundamental question remains: are we making meaningful progress, or are we simply cycling through the same challenges with different acronyms?

Learning from the Past, Not Repeating It

History has a habit of repeating itself. The NHS has long recognised digital as a critical enabler of transformation. But time and again, the potential of digital has been overpromised while the realities of delivering it effectively have been underappreciated. The truth is, digital progress in healthcare isn’t about quick wins—it’s about hard, sustained work.

At Ethical Healthcare, we believe it’s essential that the NHS builds on the hard-won digital improvements of the past decade, rather than allowing history to reset the clock once again. The digital foundations laid so far—however imperfect—represent a crucial step forward. The focus now must be on consolidating, refining, and embedding those gains rather than endlessly starting from scratch.

Staying the Course on Digital Progress

So how does the NHS avoid another cycle of upheaval and instead ensure real, lasting digital progress? There are a few key priorities:

  • Empower patients through the NHS App – The app has the potential to put people directly in control of their care, leading to better health outcomes and more efficient use of services. But this only works if…
  • Near real-time structured data flows from clinical systems – Patient activation relies on the ability to access up-to-date, standardised information. However, this is only possible if…
  • The proposed data legislation is implemented effectively – Clear governance and legal frameworks must support interoperability and data sharing. But even that will fall short unless…
  • EPRs are fully implemented and properly used – Full adoption of high-quality electronic patient records (EPRs) is non-negotiable. Yet this depends on…
  • A relentless focus on data quality – Poor-quality data is a fundamental blocker to progress. Getting this right requires…
  • Long-term digital funding and mandatory executive-level digital leadership – Sustainable investment in frontline digital capability must be matched by qualified digital voting leadership at board level.  Regardless of any acronym, the NHS must deliver integration –  strong digital leadership builds the permanent physical connections so this is more than a talking shop

No Magic Bullets

Alongside these priorities, we must avoid the ever-present distraction of ‘magic bullet’ solutions. AI, for example, is often hailed as the answer to NHS challenges. But AI, like any digital innovation, is only as good as the data and infrastructure that underpin it. Without structured, high-quality data and robust digital systems, AI is just another layer of over-promised potential.

Similarly, the idea that a single system or vendor can ‘fix’ NHS digital transformation is a myth. No single solution can address the complexity of a national health system. Instead, success depends on strategic investment, long-term thinking, and a commitment to digital as an enabler of better patient care—not just a procurement exercise.

The NHS at a Crossroads

As the NHS undergoes yet another structural shift, it has a choice. It can either let the pendulum swing back towards old patterns and past mistakes, or it can commit to building on what’s already been achieved. The future of NHS digital isn’t about tearing down and starting over.

It’s about doing the hard, often unglamorous work of embedding what works, fixing what doesn’t, and staying the course on digital transformation.

If you’re facing the complexities of NHS digital strategy, let’s talk about how we can help you stay the course. Get in touch today.”