Is Digital Healthcare Finally Growing Up?

Jul 15
Today I had the privilege of attending a major digital health conference in London, hosted by The King’s Fund - an event that brought together some of the biggest players, disruptors, and thinkers in the healthcare and tech world.

As someone from a small non-profit in Stoke-on-Trent, I arrived feeling like an outsider. Would our perspective matter in a room full of giants? But by the end of the day, I walked away inspired, emboldened, and buzzing with ideas - not least of which is the realisation that we’re all wrestling with the same questions.

Big Ideas, Bigger Challenges

The day was packed with discussions on the role of digital in transforming healthcare - but the headline message was clear: digital isn’t just the future, it’s now essential. The question is no longer if we should embed digital in healthcare, but how we do it in a way that’s inclusive, meaningful, and human.
Unlike banking - where you can build one slick, centralised user journey - healthcare is deeply complex and personal. It can’t be solved with a single app or blanket solution. Services need to work for the digitally confident and for those who are digitally excluded. The design challenge is enormous - but so is the opportunity.

The Human Side of Transformation

What really stood out was the recurring call for co-production. This isn’t about doing digital to people - it’s about building digital with people. The best digital services are shaped by those who use them. And for communities that have experienced health inequality, trust has to be earned. That takes humility, openness, and time.

It was reassuring to see that even the most senior leaders in the room acknowledged we don’t have all the answers. There was a strong current of honesty throughout the day - an understanding that digital inclusion is not a checkbox, but a continuous process of listening, learning, and adapting.

From Stoke to London (and Back Again)

What struck me most was that even in this high-level setting, people were grappling with the same things we are back in Stoke: how to make change stick, how to include everyone, and how to keep the human at the centre of tech.
That realisation was powerful. Maybe we’re not “behind” just because we’re smaller or less resourced. Maybe we’re just starting from a different place - with strong community ties and a people-first mindset that’s just as valuable.

It made me wonder: could we do something similar in Stoke? Start small. Host a relaxed event. Bring together NHS voices, digital innovators, community groups. Spark something. Maybe even build toward a TEDx-style event. Why not?

A Shared Journey

As I travelled home, I reflected on how today challenged my assumptions. The barriers to digital health transformation aren’t just technical - they’re emotional, cultural, and human. If we want change to work for everyone, we need to design it with care, curiosity, and collaboration.

Digital healthcare is growing up. The question is - are we doing enough to help it grow into something that truly works for everyone?

Ben

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