Welcome to the January edition of The Digital Academy Newsletter. Here is your monthly round up of all things happening in The Digital Academy and system partners, including learning opportunities, news, updates, events and learning spotlights. Please do email us with your thoughts and feedback and forward to colleagues who may wish to sign up.
Learning opportunities
AI Digital Professions conference
Join the AI Digital Professions free virtual learning conference from 26 January to 30 January, powered by the MoJ, NHS, i.AI, DEFRA and GDS exploring how AI is reshaping digital roles across government. Gain actionable insights and practical strategies you can apply directly to your work through talks from expert speakers, panel discussions on pertinent topics, and interactive workshops. Register here.
Handling freedom of information (FOI) requests training
We are delighted to announce the launch of the NHS England Information Governance (IG) team’s new FOI e-learning on the e-learning for health hub. This 'Handling freedom of information requests’ e-learning session is for staff with responsibility for managing FOI requests in health and care, whether a member of IG, communications, corporate governance or FOI teams in larger organisations, or a member of the admin team in smaller organisations such as GP practices or social care settings. This e-learning session will be available on ESR shortly. Completing via ESR ensures your record travels with you across your NHS career.
Electronic and digital health records community of practice
Join FEDIP for a webinar on 6 February, 14:00 – 16:00, bringing together health and care professionals with an interest in electronic and digital health records to explore how digital strategy supports care delivery across the wider healthcare system. The session will cover neighbourhood health, involvement of the voluntary sector, information governance and cyber security and how organisations can work together to enable safe and secure access to patient records. To reserve your place please contact Kim Bellis.
Microsoft Copilot Chat training
The new schedule for free Copilot Chat webinars for all staff is available here. Come learn prompting best practices and common use cases, and now also get CPD accreditation for your time! Check back in the weeks to come for many more sessions still to be added.
You also have the option of using this self-paced version for your Copilot Chat training, which has received CPD accreditation as well. Sign in with any Microsoft account to track your progress and get official CPD credit.
Latest news
Digital Skills Development Networks (DSDNs) update
As we begin the new year, the DSDNs get going in earnest with their annual conference schedule, dates now having been set for 2026 across the regions. The third cohort of the induction programme for clinicians new to digital health also gets underway in February and March. Find out more, get involved and take advantage of the training.
Modernising the healthcare curricula to enable the NHS Long Term Plan
The University of Plymouth and NHS England are working together on a national project to map how the priorities of the NHS Long-Term Plan (digital health, community-based care, and preventative care) are being taught across pre-registration programmes in England. We are inviting module and programme leads across England to take part in a short survey.
We want to ensure the voices of educators across all Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions are fully represented so we can learn from any innovative work already happening in education across the country. By sharing your insight, you will help highlight good practice, current gaps, and facilitators and barriers, ultimately shaping future approaches to education that align with the NHS agenda. Complete the survey
NHS Excellence Awards now open for entries
The NHS Excellence Awards have launched, celebrating the most innovative and impactful work that is bringing the 10 Year Health Plan to life and making a real difference for patients and communities.
Entry to the awards is completely free and open to NHS organisations and providers working in partnership with the NHS to deliver local health and care services in England. This is your chance to share the work you’re proud of and recognise the colleagues who have inspired and supported you. Find out more and enter before 5pm Friday 6 March 2026.
Upcoming events
HSJ Digital Transformation Summit
Join us at the HSJ Digital Transformation Summit on 5-6 February 2026 in Chester where the NHS Digital Academy will be participating in a panel. The Summit convenes the most senior digital, clinical and operational leaders from across health and care to explore how the NHS can truly deliver on the ambition of the 10-Year Digital Plan. Register here.
HETT Leaders’ Summit
We’re excited to introduce the newest addition to the HETT portfolio, the HETT Leaders’ Summit, taking place on 12 February 2026 at the Royal Armouries, Leeds. This focused, one-day event is designed for senior digital leaders across the NHS and wider care system, offering insight-led sessions, collaboration, and high-value networking. Our Digital Profession partners will be participating in several roundtable discussions. Find out more and register here.
Masterclass for board directors: How do we use AI to improve productivity in the NHS?
Join our partner, NHS Providers for an in-person event aimed at board directors in Newcastle on 27 February, 9:30 – 17:00. Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to improve quality, increase productivity and reduce costs. In order to maximise its potential, it is important for executive directors and non-executive directors to feel confident in their ability to gain assurance on the topic. Register here.
Digital Health Rewired
Digital Health Rewired, the biggest trade show connecting all parts of the UK health IT sector and digital health community, returns on 24-25 March 2026 at the NEC in Birmingham. The show connects health care providers and planners, researchers, academics, established industry leaders, suppliers, start-ups and patients interested in how digital tools can improve healthcare. The event will expand its focus of AI and data with twin stages exploring all aspects of use of AI and data across health and care. Our Digital Profession partners will be participating in a session on building digital careers. Register here.
Register your interest or consider sponsoring the Nursing leaders 2026 event taking place on 24 November 2026 in London and be a part of strategic leadership at the heart of health and care reform. This is the UK’s only dedicated platform for senior and aspiring nurse leaders. Centred on action, alignment and influence, it provides a powerful platform for leadership, innovation and cross-sector collaboration at a critical moment in health and care reform. Find out more.
Recently published
Digital transformation in the NHS: a reference guide
The NHS is undergoing significant digital transformation, driven by the ambitions set out in the government’s 10 Year Health Plan. A central priority is the shift from analogue to digital, aiming to modernise services, improve patient outcomes and enable more efficient data-driven care. Read the latest guide from NHS Confederation which unpacks the fundamentals of digital transformation in the NHS to support the shift from analogue to digital, with a focus on frontline digital functions of the NHS.
Beyond the hospital: How boards can lead the digital shift to neighbourhood working
This report from our partner, NHS Providers as part of the Digital Boards programme, examines the role that digital transformation will play in the creation of a Neighbourhood Health Service and what NHS boards need to know in order to realise these ambitions. Read the report.
The impact of digital learning in the context of nursing pedagogy
Read this recently published journal article by a member of our special interest group, Cristina Vasilica, and Amany Sadat from the School of Health and Society at the University of Salford. It examines the impact of digital technologies on nursing education, focusing on student digital literacy, generational learning preferences and pedagogical adaptations.
Learning spotlight
Making information easier to trust and use
Read all about Dr Matt Taylor’s Topol journey from clinic bottlenecks to a patient-led app. For Matt, the Topol Digital Fellowship has been a catalyst: user research to build the right thing, project-management discipline to build it the right way, and credibility to bring people along. The result is a focused app that aims to give patients trustworthy information, reclaim precious appointment time, and connect people to support when they need it most.
Digital profession
Health Careers showcase
The Health Careers website plays a key role in showcasing the wide range of job opportunities available across the NHS. The Digital Profession team at NHS England has refreshed and expanded the site to better represent the full breadth of digital roles within the organisation. What was previously focused primarily on health informatics has now evolved to include all digital professions, reflecting the modern digital workforce.
The newly renamed Digital, Data and Informatics section supports school leavers, graduates, and individuals considering a career change by providing clear, accessible information about digital roles across the NHS. This work aims to inspire more people to view the digital profession as an exciting and rewarding career path. To deliver this update, the team collaborated with 12 Heads of Profession and profession leads to develop new content that showcases the diverse and impactful roles available within the NHS. Discover more.
Professionalism for Digital Data and Technology (DDaT) staff
The Digital Profession team are collaborating with several key DDaT professional bodies that are particularly relevant to the health and care sector to drive up the benefits and importance of professional standards, ethics and membership. The team are working with them to ensure best value to frontline DDaT professionals. Details will be shared in the next couple of months.
FEDIP Job Role Database
The Federation for Informatics Professionals (FEDIP), alongside the British Computing Society (BCS) have lead on development of a FEDIP Job Role database. This comprehensive resource aligns to the Government Digital & Data Profession Capability Framework and the National Competency Framework for Data Professionals, leveraging the Skills for the Information Age Framework (SFIA). The Job Role Database provides details on the skills and qualifications required for each job role, along with suggested training materials.
The Digital Profession team are pleased to report that it is now 80% complete and work continues to finalise ready for a launch of the final product at Rewired 2026. Training, Development & Education (to be known on the Framework as Digital Education Service) is one of the areas under development, alongside Knowledge Management. Please share your feedback via the website’s Feedback Form or contact the Digital Profession team for more information on how to get involved in this work.
Podcast in focus
Digital Health: What NHS trusts get wrong in EPR rollouts
Hear from Beverley Bryant, chief digital officer across three trusts in Dorset, reflecting on her involvement in a national rapid review of electronic patient record (EPR) programmes across acute NHS trusts. She discusses the challenges organisations face at different stages of EPR implementation, and the considerations NHS leaders need to weigh as they move from planning to go-live and beyond.
Other useful resources
We have a range of bulletins covering primary care, nursing, mental health, transformation, NHS IMPACT and other topics.
 |