Digitisation
Digitisation: a transformative journey
Annick Guirate, software trainer consultant at Leecare solutions, discusses digitisation and pioneering technology in health and social care and the practical implications, challenges, and opportunities these innovations create for providers and the people they support
In a world where smartphones are super smart and AI can help us finish tasks faster than we can even think, it is no surprise that the health and social care field is excited to embrace high-tech advancements. In the early 2000s, countries such as
Australia and New Zealand had already been working on improving healthcare through the use of technology. However, it was only when the pandemic hit that health and social care professionals in the UK were forced to quickly reexamine these efforts. They needed to establish a stronger process to adopt new technologies and update their operations by going digital. This was necessary to guarantee that patients could still receive good care during the pandemic. Presently, it is increasingly common to
witness doctors diagnosing conditions with a simple swipe on a screen, nurses efficiently retrieving patient records via electronic
health systems, and external healthcare providers accessing real-time information without the need for traditional phone calls or in-person visits. As innovative technology and
digitalisation become more prevalent, it is evident that the days of tediously flipping through physical folders to access a patient’s care information or repeatedly contacting healthcare providers for patient updates are numbered. Dr Caroline Lee, Leecare Solutions founder and CEO, remembers: “The time when the typical nurse’s desk had over 60 folders filled with assessments and care plans, and putting everything together required hours of extra work”. The shift towards digital workflows in
healthcare holds significant potential, with well-documented advantages. Exploring both, the benefits and challenges of incorporating these technologies in health
and social care settings is crucial. This exploration provides valuable insights into the work involved in implementing such advancements, helping healthcare providers prepare for this transformative journey.
National strategies driving digital transformation To begin, it is valuable to refer to the NHS website. In its report outlining the strategy to digitise, connect, and transform the health and social care sector, the NHS emphasises the urgent and ongoing requirement for the industry to adopt digital tools rapidly and consistently. The National Health Service claims that this urgent adoption is essential for achieving long-term health improvement goals and effectively addressing the immediate challenges posed by the pandemic. The strategy focuses on digitising services, establishing
April 2026
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