Digital Health Leadership in the NHS

Health Education England through the NHS Digital Academy, and in partnership with NHSX, has launched Cohort 4 of the Digital Health Leadership Programme.

The Digital Health Leadership Programme is a 12-month, part-time programme that provides learning for 100 digital leaders – per cohort - from the health and care workforce in England. This programme aims to develop a new generation of digital leaders who can drive information and technology transformation in the NHS, who are capable of delivering change so that patient care can benefit from the many improvements and innovations modern technology has to offer. The application window opens today 1 April 2021.

The development of digital technologies and systems in the NHS has been able to speed up processes like diagnostics, as one example, providing patients with quicker, better treatment and freeing up additional clinical time to provide further care. Ensuring we have strong digital leaders in the NHS to drive the delivery of these systems and technologies will change patients’ lives, change how clinicians work and change how healthcare services are provided.

Patrick Mitchell, Director of Innovation, Transformation and Digital, Health Education England said:

“This programme is a fantastic opportunity to really develop and embed the digital leaders of the future into our NHS workforce. The scale and speed of implementing digital innovations over the last year has seen staff using sophisticated approaches and adapting to new ways of working. New digital ways of working have allowed staff to continue the delivery of safe, effective and timely care during the pandemic right across the acute, specialist, mental health, ambulance and community sectors. This programme will help ensure the NHS has the strong digital leaders to make further changes happen to benefit patients and patient care.”

Dr Harpreet Sood, Non Executive Director, Health Education England said:

"I am excited that the NHS Digital Academy will continue to train health and care digital leaders for a fourth year particularly as we have refreshed the selection process to ensure there is even more diversity and inclusion with additional support being provided to underrepresented groups”

The NHS Digital Academy website gives top tips, case studies and a webinar series to understand both the application process and what to expect, hearing from previous participants.

Applicants need to be employed by an organisation/body that forms part of the NHS, public health or social care workforce. The programme is targeted at individuals who are already working in a role where they are required to drive and implement practical digital transformational change within their organisation or system.

The application window closes on Friday 30^th April 2021.

More information about the programme is available on our new NHS Digital Academy website