A Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust team has been shortlisted for its work on digital literacy and inclusion in the prestigious Health Services Journal (HSJ) digital awards 2025.
Staff from across the organisation are preparing for the launch of a new electronic patient record system in 2026. Ahead of this, the project team wanted to understand people’s experience of using digital technologies, their confidence levels and preferences around training.
Chrissy Dixon, Chief Nurse Information Officer for Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, said “Our new electronic patient record will completely change the way we work and help us share information much more effectively to deliver the best possible care for our patients. We wanted to understand how our people felt about digital technologies and how we could support them when we go live with our electronic patient record. We got some incredibly rich data to help inform how we engage with our people and deliver training that will work for them.”
A four-month survey ran last year and more than 550 responses were received from staff from a range of clinical and non-clinical roles, with varied levels of experience and from across the acute and community sites.
The project is shortlisted in the digital literacy, education and upskilling category of the awards. Dr Payal Ghatnekar, project lead and Technologies Research Programme Manager who managed the data analysis and evaluation of this project, said: “Being shortlisted for this HSJ award is a tremendous recognition of the hard work from our entire team. Digital transformation isn’t just about systems and processes, it’s about people, their struggles and silent worries regarding technology.
“Highly skilled professionals who are rightful experts in their fields may find digital transformation challenging too. Our project aimed to remove that stigma by providing tailored, evidence-based support that meets people where they are, empowering them to learn without fear or judgment. This isn’t just about digital literacy; it’s about inclusion, confidence, and ensuring that no one is left behind in the NHS’s journey toward digital excellence.”
The research revealed that most staff have a good level of digital skills, but there are gaps in areas such as cybersecurity, accessibility features, and electronic-health tools. Digital confidence tends to decrease with age, years of service and seniority in banding, while training preferences vary significantly by levels of experience.
The team plans to run the survey again to make sure that it can track improvements and focus on getting more responses from underrepresented minority groups and those in frontline roles.
Nick Peres, Progamme Director Digital Innovation and Transformation, said: “I am delighted the team has been shortlisted for this award, which acknowledges the importance of taking a thoughtful, inclusive approach to digital transformation that considers the diverse needs of our workforce. We’re especially proud that our evidence-based methodology is being recognised as exemplary practice that could benefit other trusts navigating their own digital transformation journeys. We will now be using everything we have learned to develop customised and inclusive training programmes with something to suit everyone so that staff are supported to become confident digital adopters.”
The HSJ digital awards shine a light on teams and organisations driving meaningful change through technology, improving patient outcomes, streamlining processes, and enhancing the overall quality of care. Being shortlisted is a testament to the organisation’s unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence in digital healthcare.
The winners will be revealed at the HSJ digital awards ceremony on 26 June 2025, a night dedicated to celebrating the brightest minds and most impactful projects in digital health.
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