Digital technology is revolutionising healthcare systems across the world by streamlining processes, widening access and delivering improved patient outcomes.

In the UK, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of digital services within the NHS, leading to a rise in digital maturity among healthcare providers.

However, this rapid transition also brought to light the challenge of integrating digital initiatives into the broader healthcare system, and the realisation that simply adopting technology does not mean a provider is digitally mature.

In this article, we’ll discuss the many benefits of achieving digital maturity in healthcare systems, including the importance of Digital Maturity Assessments, and ways providers can move forward with their digital maturity strategy.

What is digital maturity?

Digital maturity refers to an organisation’s ability to effectively harness digital technologies to drive innovation, efficiency and growth.

Characteristics of digitally mature organisations include:

• Clear digital strategies aligned with business goals
• Culture of innovation, education and agility
• Strong digital skills across the workforce
• Robust data-driven decision-making processes
• Seamless integration of digital tools and technologies into wider operations.

It’s important to note digital maturity is not a static state but rather a continuous journey. Organisations often progress through different stages of digital maturity as they evolve and adapt to changes in technology and society.

The benefits of achieving digital maturity

Achieving digital maturity in healthcare brings a host of benefits that can improve service quality and operational efficiency.

Advanced digital systems, such as shared care records, allow healthcare providers to access patient data quickly and securely. This efficiency can help professionals make better-informed decisions and ultimately improve quality of care and health outcomes.

Patients themselves also benefit from digital tools like portals, mobile apps and remote monitoring platforms that can empower them to take a more active role in managing their own health.Top of Form

Leveraging data analytics and artificial intelligence can help healthcare teams identify high-risk patients, personalise treatment approaches, and derive valuable insights into population health trends.

Ultimately, digital maturity in healthcare empowers both providers and patients alike, reducing workforce pressures, driving improvements in service quality, increasing operational efficiency, and targeting inequalities in patient access and health outcomes.

Digital Maturity Assessments (DMA)

Despite the long-term cost savings, more often than not investment in digital infrastructure is needed and is something to be considered. For this reason, it’s crucial providers are able to assess their existing level of digital maturity to pinpoint service gaps, guide financial decisions, understand growth opportunities, and plan future healthcare delivery effectively.

In July 2022, NHS England launched the Digital Maturity Assessment Programme, which aims to track yearly digital progress in the NHS.

Commissioned by NHS England, the assessment is composed of 50 questions that evaluate providers in seven areas, based on the What Good Looks Like (WGLL) framework.

NHS organisations can now assess their current state of digital maturity against these baseline data benchmarks and identify areas for improvement. This enables providers to prioritise investments and initiatives that will drive them towards a more digitally mature and efficient healthcare system.

What Good Looks Like (WGGL) framework

These are the specific Seven Measures of Success detailed in this digital maturity framework:

1. Well-led: ICS leadership drives digital transformation with clear strategies and accountability for digital and data initiatives across the system.
2. Ensures smart foundations: The provider prioritises secure and reliable digital infrastructure with fosters multidisciplinary teams that support digital ambitions, while also adhering to national standards and sustainability goals.
3. Safe practice: Robust cyber security is implemented across the ICS. This includes full compliance with national standards, proactive risk management, and systematic responses to safety alerts.
4. Supports people: Frontline staff are equipped with digital literacy training and optimised tools that enable flexible work arrangements and efficient access to information across the ICS.
5. Empowers citizens: Citizen engagement drives the design of accessible digital services, promoting inclusivity and providing citizens with the tools they need to actively participate in their healthcare journey.
6. Improves care: Digital solutions are integrated into care pathways to enhance patient services, reduce variations in care quality, and facilitate remote consultations and collaborative care planning.
7. Healthy populations: Using data-driven insights, the ICS designs and delivers improvements to population health, effectively leveraging collective resources to address health inequalities and enhance outcomes.

Challenges and difficulties

The latest NHS Digital Maturity Assessment (DMA) report, published in March 2026, shows that while the NHS has made significant progress in digitising services, it is still early in its transformation journey.

Most organisations now have core digital infrastructure in place, particularly Electronic Patient Records (EPRs) and central data platforms, but the focus is shifting from deployment to optimisation. The challenge is no longer simply adopting digital tools, but ensuring they are fully integrated, effectively used by staff, and delivering measurable improvements in care and productivity.

A key finding is that interoperability remains a major barrier. Despite widespread adoption of digital systems, data sharing between organisations and care settings is still limited, restricting the ability to deliver truly joined-up care. At the same time, workforce capability and training gaps are slowing progress, highlighting that digital maturity is as much about people and processes as it is about technology.

Overall, the report reinforces a clear message: the NHS has laid the foundations for digital transformation, but realising the full benefits will depend on better integration, user adoption, and system-wide collaboration.

Key 2026 highlights 

• 93% of NHS providers now have Electronic Patient Records (EPRs) in place
• 90% operate a central data repository, showing strong progress on digital foundations
• However, only ~30% have fully integrated, bi-directional data flows between systems
• Interoperability remains the biggest barrier to improving productivity and joined-up care
• Around 90% of staff can access Shared Care Records, but usage and impact vary
• All ICBs have commissioned virtual wards, but only approximately 86% of providers have implemented them
• Only around two-thirds of organisations can digitally share data to support virtual care decisions
• The NHS is still described as being in the “foothills of digital transformation”
• Significant variation in digital maturity persists across organisations and regions
• Workforce challenges remain, with many clinicians reporting insufficient training on digital systems

How Graphnet can help

Graphnet has more than 30 years of experience in supporting UK healthcare organisations in their pursuit of digital maturity.

Our digital data solutions are designed to be fully integrated with new and existing systems, helping streamline operations and deliver improved patient experiences.

The Graphnet Shared Care Record gives healthcare professionals access to real-time patient information, while our Population Health Management tool produces rich data insights that allow providers to pinpoint and target those most in need of support.

Get in touch today discuss how Graphnet solutions can support your organisation’s digital maturity strategy.