20.02.2024
AI, Analytics, and Cybersecurity: The Trio Steering NHS Recruitment Trends
The NHS is at a critical juncture of transformation, with digital, data, and technology (DDaT) recruitment trends being driven by an urgent march towards modernisation. This is not just about ticking boxes or meeting targets; it’s about fundamentally reimagining the provision of healthcare in an increasingly digital world.
Take, for instance, the milestone of Electronic Patient Records (EPR) implementation the NHS achieved in 2023. Though the 90% figure is commendable, it represents a starting point, not a finish line. The real work lies in pushing through the final stretch and addressing the nuanced complexities of full integration. It is no surprise that experts in EPR implementation are in high demand, understood to be the key to facilitating seamless transitions that are vital for both the workforce and patient experiences.
However, at Keystream, we believe the real game-changer lies in the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI). We would like to see the shift in narrative around AI from one of apprehension to one of possibility. The £150 million investment in AI is more than just funding; it’s a call to arms for professionals to delve deeper into the intersection of technology and healthcare, to innovate and to teach our systems to think and learn, in the service of better health outcomes.
Moreover, the evolution of data analytics has triggered a new era in informed decision-making. ‘Data saves lives’ is more than a catchy slogan—it’s a sentiment that underscores the transformative power of data. Nevertheless, the NHS’s relationship with data is fraught with challenges. The solution isn’t merely technical—it’s cultural. A sense of data literacy and a spirit of cooperation is required to unlock the potential buried in numbers and charts.
Finally, Cybersecurity – the most important guardian at the gate. With cyber-attacks becoming increasingly sophisticated, the NHS needs to fortify its digital infrastructure walls with constant reinforcement. Investments in cybersecurity personnel and training aren’t just precautionary—they are essential because the protection of patient data isn’t just a legal obligation; it’s a sacred trust.
In this light, DDaT recruitment trends reflect a strategic response to an evolving landscape. It’s an acknowledgment that technology and healthcare are now inextricably linked. And, whilst the path to progression is paved with plenty of challenges, it is great to witness the NHS’ commitment to patient care, keeping it at the centre of all innovation and digital progression.
Latest insights
If Your CIO Isn’t at the Executive Table, Your University Is Taking a Risk
Universities don’t fail because their technology breaks. They fail because their strategy ignores technology until it’s too late. For years, Higher Education has treated IT as a delivery function – something to be consulted once the “real” decisions have been made. That mindset is now actively dangerous. In today’s sector, digital strategy is institutional strategy. And any university that doesn’t have its CIO at the executive…
Fail Fast, Serve Better: Why the Public Sector Needs a Hackathon Mindset
The electricity in the room was palpable. You could feel that surge of anticipation and excitement — the moment when your brain starts racing at 100 miles an hour and the ideas begin to spill out. We were only ten minutes into our first ever Keystream Hackathon, and already the ideas were coming so fast…
Who Owns the Roof Over Our Heads? And why it matters
Generation Alpha – the iPad-native, AI-normal, children of Millennials who think global videos, climate chat, and hand sanitiser are just… life. They’re also the least likely generation to ever own their own home. As it stands many Millennial parents will not get to see their children own their own home. That matters. As property ownership…
Pulling the Cord on Tech’s Culture of Silence
In aviation, every crash leads to an investigation. In tech, most failures disappear into silence. Why? After attending several events recently, one theme stood out: transparency, or the lack of it. Having supported digital and transformation leaders for over a decade, I’m struck by how often the same issues resurface. Lessons aren’t learned, and problems…
Tuition Fees, Talent, and Quality: The Real Challenge for UK Universities
The government’s recent announcement allowing universities in England to raise tuition fees in line with inflation has made headlines across the sector. While this move may provide welcome financial relief, the bigger challenge for universities isn’t tuition – it’s people. Universities simply cannot meet quality standards without the right teams in place. IT, digital, and…
Beyond the Tools – Making Digital Transformation Work for the NHS
I’ve seen the NHS’s digital transformation from all angles….as a patient, working on the frontline and in the programme room. I’ve felt the frustration of handwritten notes, siloed systems, and digital tools that promised productivity but rarely delivered. But I’ve also seen the difference when technology truly works, when it empowers rather than overwhelms, when it simplifies rather than complicates, and when it supports…
The Traitors Within: Tackling Hidden Inefficiencies in NHS Waiting List Management
As The Traitors returns to our screens tonight (highly recommend if you haven’t seen it), it’s a good reminder that not every challenge is visible at first glance – especially in healthcare. Just like in the show, NHS teams are working together towards a shared goal, but sometimes unseen forces quietly work against progress. In…
From Perfectly Choreographed Groceries to Well-Orchestrated Public Services: What We Learned from a Leading UK Supermarket
As part of our work exploring how operational design principles translate across sectors, we recently visited one of the UK’s leading supermarket micro-fulfilment centres (MFC). We were curious to see how one of the country’s most complex logistics operations balances automation, efficiency and human input to meet high-volume demand. On the surface, it seems far…
NHS Group Structures: Navigating the Shift
Across the NHS, a clear pattern is emerging: the rise of the group structure. Some trusts were early adopters, but we’re now seeing more organisations coming together, whether by uniting corporate functions or pursuing a full merger. This shift is being driven by real pressures: financial constraints, workforce shortages, duplicated services, and the ongoing drive…
AI, Communities and a Fit-for-Future Public Sector
Navigating a New Vision for Health and Local Services The government’s 10-Year Plan for the NHS lays out a bold vision of a “fit for the future” health service, with three major shifts: care closer to home, digital-first services, and a focus on prevention. It is a plan to reimagine how care is delivered by…