Virtual event to explore digital response to COVID-19

Digital Health’s Summer School programme has amassed a ‘who’s who’ of international and national digital leaders for two days, exploring digital responses to COVID-19, and what comes next.

The free event, taking place on 23 and 24 July, features more than 50 speakers, including keynotes from Matthew Gould, CEO of NHSX; Sarah Wilkinson, CEO of NHS Digital; Dr Nikki Kanani, Medical Director of Primary Care at NHS England and NHS Improvement; Dr Ben Goldacre, DataLab, at the University of Oxford; and Sonia Patel, CIO of NHSX.

Professor Keith McNeil, the CCIO for Queensland Health - the UK’s first national CCIO for health and care and former Cambridge University Hospitals NHS FT CEO; and Shayne Hunter, the deputy director-general data and digital for New Zealand’s Ministry of Health, will also take part at the virtual event.

It will offer insight into how organisations have used digital and data to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, as well as sharing key lessons, practical advice and a look at what the sector is facing in the future. The wide range of speakers on the programme include Lisa Emery, CIO, The Royal Marsden and chair of London CIO Council; Ayesha Rahim, CCIO, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS FT, and Jo Hillier, Digital Clinical Lead, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Jo Hillier will be sharing how Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has implemented Attend Anywhere – an NHS virtual consultation platform - becoming the Trust with the highest use of the platform. The talk will include the results of a survey of service users, carers and clinicians within the Trust about how they have found the technology, as well as insight into implementation at pace, effectiveness of the technology and transformation of mental health services for the future.

Hillier said: “In mental health, prior to COVID-19, people were very anxious about the use of digital technology - they didn’t think it would translate to the therapeutic setting, but that has not been the case. We had challenges to overcome, such as how we could work with people who don’t have access to technology, and we have found different ways of problem solving around clinical practice. All of this has been done at such a pace and we are very proud of what we have achieved. I hope by sharing the lessons we have learnt that we can help other Trusts facing similar issues.”

There will be a mix of formats including video diaries showcasing how digital transformation can be achieved during difficult working conditions, live Q&As and panel discussions offering opportunities for audience input. 

Aasha Cowey, who is a programme manager for digital transformation at South Central and West Commissioning Support Unit, will share through a video diary how COVID-19 has impacted her personally and how it has changed the way her and her team delivers digital projects.

Aasha said: “In my video, I’ve attempted to reflect on what it has been like to work through this period with constantly changing goal posts – all with a toddler at home and managing my own anxiety. I’ve learnt that it is important to ensure all of our workforce feel valued even if they are not on a ‘fanfare’ COVID project. I will also discuss how important it is to find a balance with rapid decision making and how the way we work has had to change forever – for the better and worse.”

Despite going virtual, delegates will able to network by booking virtual meet-ups with colleagues and a virtual happy hour offering further opportunities for networking.

Jon Hoeksma, CEO of Digital Health said: “The COVID-19 crisis meant it was impossible to hold the regular Summer School this year, so we’ve used the need to go virtual as an opportunity to build a great programme focused on UK and international digital responses to the pandemic.“We invite all digital leaders in health and care UK or internationally interested in learning from how your peers have used digital and to respond to the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis, and what comes next, for a very special Summer School on 23-24 July.”

Virtual Summer School is exclusively for Digital Health Networks members.