Boards given digital transformation advice

The latest publication in the provider organisation’s digital boards programme summarises key points for all board members to consider when overseeing the implementation of new digital services. The digital boards programme is commissioned by Health Education England (HEE), and aims to increase board members’ confidence in delivering digital schemes at their trust, and to help them avoid errors.

HEE also supports the HFMA’s delivering value with digital technologies programme, which aims to increase awareness among finance staff of the potential for digital transformation, and to help them play an active role in supporting technology-based change. This week, the association published its Digital technologies resources map, to support good practice in delivering value in digital programmes.

The NHS Providers’ guide, which was produced jointly with consultants Public Digital, sets out eight principles for success. They are:

• Deliver what patients and staff need
• Set clear, realistic goals
• Test, measure and learn how it’s working
• Think long term, deliver short term
• Invest in a dedicated, cross-functional in-house digital team
• Get the best from technology suppliers
• Build trust, not barriers
• Do not stick with the wrong plan

The guide includes a foreword from immediate HFMA past president Caroline Clarke, writing as group chief executive of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. She said most transformations are now underpinned by digital technology.

‘Chief executives and their boards can set a tone for an organisation – that technology is taken seriously and talked about at all levels of the organisation. Digital can't just be discussed when a business case is submitted to the board. As leaders, we must understand how digital is delivered,’ she added.

She called on board members to: be proactive in making the case for change and then implementing it; take a long-term view of digital transformation; capitalise on opportunities to collaborate; and plan to properly resource digital initiatives. Most importantly, she added, boards must be prepared to learn from peers.

Jenny Reindorp (pictured), interim director of programmes at NHS Providers, said the Covid pandemic had seen progress in implementing digital change, but it was important to build on this momentum.

‘To do this, it's essential that board members are equipped with the expertise they need to be confident in assuring digital delivery at their trusts. Our eight principles are designed to guide busy board leaders through transformative digital change.’

HEE head of digital readiness education David Farrell added: ‘The eight digital delivery principles set out, and the evaluation questions posed within, will be invaluable to anybody thinking about and leading digital transformation within their organisation.’

The HFMA digital resources map gives finance staff who are supporting digital transformation projects a useful guide to available tools and resources. It will also help clinical and informatics teams understand how to make the case for investment, and the associated challenges.