On 22 May, Answer Digital opened its Leeds office to host a landmark event—Celebrating Healthcare Transformation at Scale. With voices from NHS England, ICS leaders, digital health pioneers, and community collaborators, the day brought together people who are not only navigating the complexities of transformation, but driving it.

This wasn’t a day of product pitches or policy briefings. It was a shared moment to celebrate the innovation already happening, reflect on lessons learned, and unite around a common goal: creating a healthier, more connected NHS for all.

While every speaker brought unique insights, six themes stood out across the day.

1. Unwavering commitment in the face of unpredictable change

Despite ongoing headlines about pressure, cuts, and workforce fatigue, the atmosphere in the room was one of resilience and pride. The event reminded us that real transformation isn’t smooth or linear—but it is happening, powered by people who show up every day with purpose.

Sonia Patel, Chief Technology Officer at NHS England, captured this perfectly:

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most adaptable to change.”

Her reflections on digitising over 500,000 paper records and building interoperable, connected systems illustrated the scale of what’s already been achieved. Francesca Markland opened her talk by recognising this spirit in the room, calling it “a celebration of the people, the hard work and the dedication from everyone.”

2. AI, LLMs and ambient tech can support—not replace—care

There was consensus that artificial intelligence, large language models, and ambient scribing technologies will play a pivotal role in relieving clinical and operational burden. But speakers emphasised that these tools must be embedded carefully, supporting rather than replacing the human touch that defines care.

As Paul Wye observed:

“Data has been at the heart of a lot of the talks today—along with LLMs and how they can help population health.”

From early-stage implementations of virtual wards to intelligent triage and remote monitoring, there’s a growing confidence that AI and automation can help the NHS do more with less—if grounded in real needs, and driven by trusted data.

3. Our journey is just beginning

Across projects, partnerships and pilots, there was an energy in the room that this isn’t the finish line—it’s the launchpad.

Sonia Patel shared her hope for a more connected NHS built on collaboration, saying:

“Our journey so far is just the beginning. Let’s continue to push the boundaries. We will create a healthier and more connected NHS for all.”

The day's conversations highlighted that digital maturity varies across regions—but also that sharing best practices, embracing learning, and staying focused on patients is what will close the gap.

4. The NHS must be in control of its digital future

As the NHS leans into digital-first delivery, the importance of owning, understanding, and evolving its own systems was clear.

From open-source software to national-scale records platforms, conversations pointed to the need for solutions that are NHS-led—not vendor-dependent. This is about sovereignty, sustainability, and long-term resilience.

John Farenden’s overview of Interweave’s work across 800 GP practices and 22 hospitals (covering 14% of the UK population) showed what’s possible when infrastructure is built for the NHS, by the NHS.

5. Making data work harder—through insight, not just infrastructure

Data was mentioned in almost every session—but not just in the abstract. Speakers focused on what it takes to turn raw information into operational insight and better outcomes.

Laura Boyd challenged the room to go further:

“We need to think about how we use data in new ways to make a bigger impact.”

Daniel Eyre added depth:

“EPR innovation is all about understanding what data you’re collecting, why you’re collecting it, and what you’re doing with it.”

The National Document Repository, described by James Insley and Danielle Delaney-Anderson, is a strong example—turning legacy Lloyd George records into accessible, machine-readable information, while saving practices time, cost, and space.

6. Collaboration is the engine of progress

Throughout the day, one word came up more than any other: collaboration.

Whether in mental health transformation (as seen in Katharine North and Rebecca Morley’s 100-day challenge), cross-system pharmacy integration (via Yeyenta Osasu), or London’s virtual ward development (led by Francesca Markland), the best outcomes weren’t achieved in silos—they were built together.

Katharine North summed it up:

“This is a great example of how regional and national services can collaborate together for the greater good.”

And Neville Young made the case for looking outward:

“We need to be less scared about sharing data with commercial partners… we need to work creatively with industry if we want to move forward.”

Samantha Robinson echoed this sentiment, highlighting:

“How passionate the people are, the digital agenda, and how much change each passionate person can make.”

With thanks to our speakers

We’re incredibly grateful to every speaker who shared their work, stories and vision:

• Sonia Patel – NHS England
• Laura Boyd – Health Innovation Yorkshire and Humber
• James Insley – NHS England
• Yeyenta Osasu – NHS England
• John Farenden – Interweave
• Francesca Markland – NHS England
• Katharine North & Rebecca Morley – North Yorkshire Talking Therapies
• Daniel Eyre – Cerecore
• Joe McDonald – SleepStation

Panel chaired by Hassan Chaudhury, featuring:

- Samantha Robinson – Yorkshire Ambulance Service
- Sonia Patel – NHS England
- Neville Young – Health Innovation Yorkshire and Humber
- Martin Carpenter – Government of Jersey

A final reflection

The challenges are real—but so is the progress.

This event reminded us that while transformation takes time, the ambition, talent and drive is already here. If we keep sharing, keep questioning, and keep showing up—we’ll go further, together.

And as many said on the day, this is just the beginning.