Digital Horizons - challenges and opportunities facing NHS digital transformation

The NHS is at a pivotal time in which requirements for digital transformation are becoming increasingly mandatory. With many NHS trusts now well on the way to establishing fundamental digital maturity, especially in the run-up to the March 2026 deadline for EPR rollout, now is the time to look ahead to the next phase of NHS transformation.

Get insights into the new phase of NHS digital transformation

Our latest whitepaper delves into the opportunities and challenges NHS trusts can expect to face in this new phase of digital transformation, in which goals for technological innovation and widespread adoption come to the forefront. It discovers that while technological innovation is presenting numerous opportunities for healthcare organisations, interoperability, patient access concerns, and public fears over AI could slow future progress.

These leading insights will help NHS trust decision makers gain a comprehensive understanding of the current landscape and empower them to confidently implement digital transformation strategies effectively. By successfully implementing digital transformation strategies that maximise on opportunities and mitigate challenges, NHS trusts can deliver enhanced patient engagement and experience, as well as improved operational efficiencies while relieving resource pressures. The whitepaper outlines six key areas of focus, including:

• The overall picture
• AI adoption in the NHS
• Data security challenges
• Patient access and centricity
• Interoperability and connected health
• Budget and funding constraints

Upon the release of this whitepaper, James Fry, our Managing Director, said: 

In bringing this information to the NHS at this crucial time, we're further supporting public sector initiatives that improve efficiency and delivery of service in the UK. Responsibly harnessing technology is an effective way to reduce costs and positively impact people’s lives, and this whitepaper will provide greater insight and aid decision-making for those striving to make an impactful difference.

Gain access to brand-new industry data

This report brings our brand-new market research service to the forefront, with primary data collected and visualised by our specialist team. The data in this whitepaper consists of social listening and mentions data across a wide range of digital channels, including online news, social networks, podcasts, forums, and blog sites, collected using leading consumer insights platform, Brandwatch.

The primary data that has contributed to this whitepaper is comprised of:

• 13.6K online discussions monitored, all relating to NHS digital transformation
• 2.09M accumulated reach of these discussions
• 6.04K contributing content sources (including online news, social networks, forums, and blog sites)
• 3.2K contributing industry professionals (including Health Practitioners, Business Executives, Scientists & Researchers, Journalists, and IT professionals)
• 12 months data collection period, from August 2024 to September 2025

This data has been bolstered with additional secondary information and third-party data from sources including NHS England, GOV.UK, Cambridge University, and Deloitte.

Unlock the power of digital transformation for your NHS trust

At Blue Frontier, we provide one of the largest ranges of digital services of any agency across the UK. Our services are designed to elevate organisations in all areas of the digital landscape and include development, design, marketing, and technical support. We’ve worked with a wide range of healthcare organisations, from the NHS and NHS trusts to large multinationals like Alere and FIND.