Welcome to the April edition of The Digital Academy Newsletter. Here is your monthly round up of all things happening in The Digital Academy, 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
NHS England, Technology Enhanced Learning: Virtual reality 360 degree content on the learning hub
The learning hub now contains a series of virtual reality 360-degree video resources that are now available. You can find the national learning on the TEL simulation and immersive catalogue and the TEL team encourage you to take advantage of the platform to share your own immersive content on the learning hub.
Introduction to User Research on FutureLearn
The Government Digital Service 3-week, self-led course is open to all levels of knowledge and experience, but is primarily aimed at those new to user research or those looking to consolidate their knowledge – the course covers all the basics, ranging from understanding users and their needs, to how user researchers contribute across the service life cycle, to how we plan and implement ethical research projects and the basics of data analysis. Introduction to User Research is free to access and available to join at any time. Find out more and enrol here.
Cyber Security Apprenticeship Scheme
The NHS shift towards digital health and the rise in sophisticated cyber security threats have reinforced the need for a robust cyber security workforce in the NHS. To address this challenge and future-proof its digital infrastructure, the Cyber Improvement Programme has launched its first ever Cyber Security Apprenticeship L4 Scheme.
NHS England will be launching a cohort of the L4 apprenticeship starting in September 2025. Once you enrol onto the apprenticeship programme, you will also become part of a wider NHS Cyber Security Apprenticeship Community. This will provide you with further opportunities for networking and development within the profession and help you to build your cyber security career in the NHS. Learn more.
Microsoft: TechHer for Government
Following on from the successful TechHer series for Health and Social Care, register for these new free training sessions for women who work in the UK public sector, designed to inspire curiosity and excitement about technology. Delivered in 90 minute sessions over 4 weeks via a Teams webinar, these live engaging sessions aspire to ignite your interest in technology and build your skills to a fundamental level.
Microsoft: Virtual Training Hours
Sharpen and develop your digital skills through Microsoft funded, free virtual training hours which have now been extended into June. Sessions deliver pre-recorded content with live Q&A. Gain deeper knowledge of Microsoft 365 products.
Latest news
Developing Digital Confidence in the NHS
As longer-term followers of the NHS Digital Academy and readers of our newsletter will know, the NHS Digital Academy is focussing on the development of digital and data confidence and competence in NHS staff as the single most impactful thing we can do.
This conclusion was first identified in our Learning Needs Analysis from last year and confirmed in recent surveys and interviews we’ve undertaken to understand pain points of NHS staff in more detail. We’ve now had two meetings of a special interest group to discuss and build on these findings and the community has come together to undertake 56 interviews of NHS staff and the educators who serve them on a day-today basis in healthcare provider organisations. What we’ve found out has been really eye-opening. Read more.
We’re not quite at the stage to start prototyping new products and services to meet these needs, but we’re not a million miles away and we hope to be testing a couple of theories at our next special interest group in the early summer. If you’d like to get involved you can sign up here.
NHS unveils redesigned homepage to meet evolving digital health needs
The NHS is revamping its digital front door. The new homepage has been designed to meet rising user expectations and streamline access to healthcare online. With more than 50 million monthly visits and more than 60% of those from mobile devices, the update reflects a significant shift towards mobile-first, user-centred healthcare experiences. Learn more.
Implementation: The NHS should take a leaf out of NASA’s book
If sending humans to space has taught us anything, it’s that technology alone isn’t the answer. Implementation is everything, writes the Health Foundation’s Ben Shemesh. Despite the huge potential for technology to increase productivity and improve patient care, technologies often fail due to poor implementation. Like NASA, it’s time to invest in the processes, training and support structures that will allow technology to be used safely and to its full potential.
Upcoming events
Workforce Digital Skills Summit
Join our partner FutureDotNow for their second annual Workforce Digital Skills Summit on 30 April, 10:00am to 3:30pm at the Guildhall in London where we will be speaking. The summit will see the launch of pioneering new research into the economic and social impact of a workforce equipped with essential digital skills for work and an exploration of the link between essential digital skills for work and the rapidly evolving AI landscape. Book your place here.
EPR Implementation: Lessons and Challenges
FEDIP and HPCA are hosting an online event on 30 April 2025, 12:00–1:00 aimed at anyone tackling the complexities of Electronic Patient Record (EPR) systems. Whether you are facing implementation challenges, looking to refine your strategy, or simply want to learn from real-world experiences, this session is designed to give you practical takeaways to make your EPR journey smoother. Register here.
Leadership peer learning event: collaborating across East Midlands to progress on the digital agenda
This webinar, on 22 May 2025, delivered as part of the Digital Academy Digital Boards programme, will explore how trusts across the East Midlands are collaborating on the digital transformation agenda. Attendees will hear how trust leaders are using their partnership to tackle some of the key issues facing the sector. This event is open to trust board and digital leaders.
Shuri network in the north day
Join our partner, the Shuri network first members’ event of the year on 22 May 2025! The event, exclusively for members will highlight the work of the Centre for Digital Innovation in Health and Social Care (CDIHSC) at the University of Bradford. Hosted by Rebecca Randell, Professor of Digital Innovations in Healthcare who will highlight their work and international perspectives on innovation and health research and provide advice on careers in health and care research and digital health. There will be lots of networking opportunities with other Shuri members, CDIHSC staff and speakers. Book here.
NHS ConfedExpo 2025 agenda now live: book your pass today!
Join over 5,000 peers and system partners at NHS ConfedExpo, the UK’s leading health and care conference, on 11 and 12 June 2025 at Manchester Central.
Take a look at the agenda, and choose from over 170 sessions including thought-provoking keynotes, panel discussions and interactive workshops. This is a unique opportunity to hear from exceptional speakers and learn from a diverse range of organisations about the innovative work they are doing to deliver improvements across health and care. Book your pass today. NHS, local authority and wider public sector staff are eligible for a free ticket.
Recently published
What are immersive technologies?
Immersive technologies are a group of emerging technologies that all share a common aim: to create an experience for users that mediates their perception of their physical environment. Read this in-depth explainer by the Ada Lovelace Institute to learn more.
Preparing the NHS for the AI era: why smarter triage and navigation mean better health care
This report from the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change argues that the impact of AI in triage and navigation services could be transformational, improving safety and convenience for patients, increasing NHS productivity, and reducing waiting times across the NHS, without the need to expand the workforce. Read more.
Learn fast and build things: lessons from six years of studying AI in the public sector
As governments seek to accelerate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in policy-making and public services, this policy briefing by the Ada Lovelace Institute aims to summarise the lessons for success drawn from more than 30 reports and research publications. It examines the use of data and AI across the public sector, in health care, education and social care, and in cross-cutting work on transparency and foundation models.
Podcast of the month
The Health Foundation podcast series
Listen to interviews with experts and high-profile guests discussing the most important issues affecting the future of health and care for people in the UK. In each episode, the Health Foundation chief executive, Dr Jennifer Dixon interviews the leading minds in health and care and guests from politics and beyond, to get their views on the most topical issues and their implications for health. Recent episodes include the NHS 10-Year plan and Analogue to digital in the NHS: is the shift within reach?
Other useful resources
We have a range of bulletins covering primary care, nursing, mental health, transformation, NHS IMPACT and other topics.
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