Digital literacy in NHS Healthcare 2025 | Tools, Accessibility & Health App Safety Explained

Описание: Get a quick and compelling snapshot of the key takeaways from this eye-opening session on bridging the digital literacy gap in healthcare. If you're short on time, here's why you might want to catch the full webinar later:

💡 Why Digital Literacy Matters More Than Ever
Digital transformation is here to stay—but only 48% of UK working-age adults can complete basic digital tasks.
Over 50% of NHS staff lack essential digital skills, including simple tasks like using email or accessing payslips online.
Poor digital design and lack of accessibility directly impact patient safety, clinician burnout, and inefficiencies in care.

🧠 Speaker Highlights
🧑‍🦽 Claire Dellar (Accessibility Ambassador, NHS England)
Shared powerful personal insight as a neurodivergent, disabled clinician.
Accessibility is not optional—it's a clinical risk if ignored.
1 in 4 UK citizens has a disability; 1 in 7 are neurodivergent—design for them, and everyone benefits.
Advocated for universal design: accessible forms, clear language, screen reader compatibility, and inclusive procurement.
Bonus: Shared practical tools and ChatGPT prompts for making content accessible.

📱 Liz Ashall-Payne (CEO, ORCHA)
There are over 365,000 digital health apps—yet only 20% meet safety and quality standards.
Clinicians aren’t trained in digital tools, and current app store ratings are not reliable indicators of quality.
Emphasized building trust through validated assessment frameworks like NHS DTAC.
Shared model for integrating digital tools into personalized care pathways, not just single-use apps.
Key message: “Think pathways, not products.”

🧑‍💻 David Farrell (Head of Product, NHS Digital Academy)
Reinforced the massive gap in digital confidence—including among high earners and even tech sector workers.
Digital illiteracy is not just about older age groups—1 in 2 young adults can’t complete basic digital work tasks.
Lack of skills and poor design are among the top reasons 70% of digital transformation projects fail.
Advocated for user-centred design and scalable digital skills programs across the NHS.

🔧 Practical Tools Shared
Hemingway App – Simplify language in patient communications.
Silktide Accessibility Checker – Instantly flag accessibility issues.
NHS Digital Service Manual – Clear, actionable accessibility standards.

🧠 Top Takeaways
Accessibility isn’t just for patients—it’s for clinicians and systems too.
Digital health needs consistent standards, smarter evaluation, and equitable access.
One-size-fits-all doesn’t work—solutions must be adaptable to individual patient needs.

🗓 Don’t Miss
BMJ Future Health Conference in November – Open to all, with cutting-edge sessions on solving real clinical problems. View the programme here: https://futurehealth.bmj.com/conferen...
Next Webinar: 29 August – Exploring AI and large language models in healthcare.