Welcome to the December 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
New programme offers all AHPs the opportunity to build digital and data skills
A Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) collaboration has led to the launch of a new digital education programme that gives physiotherapists and all UK AHPs access to digital and data knowledge and practical skills.
Funded by the Digital Academy and by the CSP Charitable Trust, the CSP, in collaboration with Keele University, EL Healthcare Education and the other AHP professional bodies has launched the Digital and Data Foundations education programme.
The programme is designed to provide a solid foundation of digital and data education for AHPs across the UK, is free and bite sized to allow learners to access in their own time. Learn more.
Shuri Digital Fellowship cohort 5: applications open
The groundbreaking Digital Fellowship from our partner, the Shuri network will be running in 2026. Open to Shuri network members from NHS and social care across England, the programme is recognised for its impact on BAME digital leadership development, career progression and creating a generation of digital champions and innovators. Learn more and apply.
Latest news
Digital Skills Development Networks:
Towards Excellence in Digital Standards Accreditation - Raising the bar for NHS digital teams
The NHS digital workforce plays a vital role in delivering safe, effective, modern healthcare and the Towards Excellence in Digital Standards (TEDS) accreditation scheme is here to recognise and elevate that work. The scheme is well embedded in the Northwest but is also gaining traction in other regions of England. Find out more and register.
Digital Data and Technology (DDaT) Workforce Data collection
The second data collection was completed by individual organisations in all regions of England reflecting the staffing they had in post as at 31st March 2025 under the DDaT job families as well as their establishment for 2025/26. The 2025 data has been added to the DDaT workforce dashboard and everybody who had access to the dashboard last year, can just login and view the data.
If you would like to get access to the DSDN 2025 DDaT census data dashboard; please contact: vikki.hilton-greenhalgh@nhs.net and christinebanks@nhs.net who are coordinating this.
Digital Health Impact List 2026
The Digital Health Impact List celebrates the people driving digital change and improving lives across health and care. This is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the digital health success stories that are creating meaningful impact across the NHS, private healthcare and social care. Entries close on 31 December 2025. Find out more and enter for free.
Upcoming events
Is your EPR fit for the future?
Join our partner, NHS Providers for this webinar on 29 January 2026, 14:00 - 15:30 aimed at board members and digital leaders, to ensure your EPR is truly fit for the future and supports long-term organisational success. Featuring speakers from two NHS Foundation Trusts and exploring what has worked and the challenges faced including lessons you need to know. Learn more and secure your place.
HETT Leaders’ Summit
We’re excited to introduce the newest addition to the HETT portfolio, the HETT Leaders’ Summit, taking place on 12th 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. Find out more and 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. Register here.
Recently published
The Ripple Effect: How essential digital skills create social value and improve lives
Read the latest report from our partner, FutureDotNow’s first-of-its-kind report exploring the relationship between essential digital skills and social value. It delves into the positive changes that come from an individual improving their digital skills and the social value this generates. Read the report.
Co-creating the digital front door to the NHS
The NHS App enables millions of people to access essential healthcare services, but some struggle to use it. Read this blog from User Researchers at NHS England, exploring the challenges and sharing practical insights for making user research inclusive and accessible so no one is left behind.
Breaking down digital barriers
Tim Clarke, Deputy Director for Transformation, Adoption and Inclusion at NHS England shares how the Transformation Directorate is tackling digital exclusion head-on, from library partnerships and free data schemes to inclusive design and accessibility testing across the NHS App and website. Read more.
New guide: How to implement ambient voice technology in health and care
Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex has published a practical guide to help health and care organisations successfully and safely introduce ambient voice technology into their services. Learn more.
Learning spotlight
Change moves at the speed of trust
Learn about how Jemma Rees is using digital therapeutics to widen access to mental health support. Her Topol Digital Fellowship project explores how digital therapeutics can be used within schools to make more early intervention emotional wellbeing support more accessible for children, young people and their families. Read more.
Digital profession
Building AI confidence across the NHS: AI Apprenticeships
On 18 November 2025 the Digital Profession team at NHS England held a webinar in association with Makers on an AI apprenticeship. The webinar discussed how Artificial intelligence is reshaping the way the NHS manages information and makes decisions, but the greatest challenge lies not in the technology itself—it’s in how people adapt to it. The webinar brought together NHS professionals to discuss how organisations can overcome resistance, build confidence in non‑technical roles, and create lasting capability through training.
By combining expert insight with practical examples, the webinar offered insights for NHS organisations and staff to move from cautious awareness to confident, sustainable adoption of AI. The recording of the webinar and content is available on the Digital Profession Futures page.
Podcast in focus
Inside Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL): The future of healthcare education
The Virtual & Hybrid Learning Faculty (VHLF) is part of NHS England’s Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) team. An integral part of the VHLF is to provide a sustainable suite of on-demand resources that are evidence-based and best practice. Listen here to the new podcast series on the Learning Hub, recently added to their wide range of resources to support the education community and support them in transforming health and social care education, including artificial intelligence.
Not a member of the VHLF Community of Practice? You can register here.
Season's greetings from the team!
As we reach the end of 2025, we would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who has supported our work including our special interest group, all of the current cohorts and alumni of the NHS Digital Academy and system partners. We look forward to collaborating with you next year!
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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