Building Better Healthcare has taken a look at the latest technologies NHS Trusts and other healthcare providers have integrated into their systems to advance their digital evolution in March 2025.
In March, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans to abolish NHS England, aiming to streamline decision-making and bring healthcare management under the direct control of the Department of Health and Social Care.
The reform, expected to take two years, is seen as a key step in reducing bureaucracy and accelerating digital transformation within the NHS.
This move aligns with ongoing efforts to modernise the health service, including a £3.4 billion investment in digital infrastructure.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans to abolish NHS England
Centralising NHS management is expected to facilitate faster implementation of initiatives like the Federated Data Platform and patient passports, which aim to unify patient records and improve care delivery.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has confirmed that the digital workforce will be a priority, with continued focus on enhancing skills and technology in the NHS.
While the abolition of NHS England has faced some criticism, the government believes it will streamline processes and unlock the full potential of NHS digitisation.
Despite governmental reforms of the NHS, and the healthcare sector NHS trusts and healthcare organisations continue to progress their digitisation journey.
The partnerships
The NHS Trusts or healthcare providers that have made partnerships with companies are:
- East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
- Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
- Graphnet Health
- Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
- Sectra
- Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
- SPARK TSL
- North Bristol NHS Trust
- System C
- Spire Leicester Hospital
- DePuy Synthes
eForm
Kent has launched a new digital Patient Optimisation eForm and its first-ever hospice data feed to enhance prehabilitation and elective recovery.
The initiatives are powered by Graphnet Health and supported by the CIPHA Population Health Platform.
The eForm supports services like smoking cessation, weight loss, lifestyle improvement, and referrals, with built-in logic to ensure data accuracy.
These tools give clinicians real-time patient data via the Kent and Medway Care Record
The hospice data feed integrates palliative care data into KMCR for better end-of-life care.
These tools give clinicians real-time patient data via the Kent and Medway Care Record (KMCR), improving care coordination and decision-making.
Imaging solution
Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust has successfully deployed Sectra’s enterprise imaging solution, becoming the sixth trust in the South East 2 Imaging Network to do so.
Sectra is a Sweden-based medical IT and cybersecurity solutions company specialist.
The imaging solution enables shared radiology imaging, X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs are now instantly accessible across all six trusts in the network.
Improved access to critical diagnostic information captured at each organisation has implications for safer and better-informed decision making at the point of care
Improved access to critical diagnostic information captured at each organisation has implications for safer and better-informed decision making at the point of care, and in the delivery of high-quality diagnostic reporting.
It also lays the foundations for workforce development at a regional level, with new possibilities for harnessing scarce resources where it is needed most.
Information and communication platform
Stepping Hill Hospital, part of Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, is the first in the UK to deploy SPARK TSL’s Fusion platform, replacing outdated Hospedia units with 500 modern bedside devices across its 740-bed site, according to the Trust.
The UK-based telecommunications service provider’s SPARK Fusion units deliver a wide range of infotainment, engagement, communication, and productivity apps, enhancing patient experience and supporting staff workflows.
Stepping Hill Hospital, part of Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, is the first in the UK to deploy SPARK TSL’s Fusion platform
Features include: TV, radio, translation tools, meal ordering, modern nurse call, patient feedback forms, and potential for integration with Electronic Patient Records (EPR).
The initiative aligns with NHS England’s vision for digital hospitals and supports future goals like reaching Level 7 on the HIMSS EMRAM digital maturity model.
AI assistant
System C, a UK health information technology systems and services company, has launched a new AI Assistant within CareFlow EPR to streamline clinical documentation and improve patient care.
Powered by a secure, Microsoft-hosted version of ChatGPT, tailored for NHS needs, the AI assistant generates structured draft documentation (e.g., SBAR handovers, team referrals, and tasks).
Powered by a secure, Microsoft-hosted version of ChatGPT
However, clinicians retain control, and AI suggestions must be reviewed and accepted.
North Bristol NHS Trust is running a Proof of Value trial in emergency and stroke departments.
Robotic-assisted solution
Spire Leicester Hospital, an independent hospital part of the Spire Health Group, has successfully performed its first robotic-assisted knee replacement using the VELYS (trademarked) robotic-assisted solution.
VELYS was developed and manufactured by DePuy Synthes, the orthopaedics company of Johnson & Johnson.
This system is designed to enhance surgical precision in knee replacement procedures
This system is designed to enhance surgical precision in knee replacement procedures by integrating advanced technologies to optimize implant placement.
Spire Leicester Hospital the first hospital in Leicestershire to offer this advanced technology, and the third hospital across Spire Healthcare to do so, according to Spire Health.