05 February 2025

Learning from NHS digital transformation

Learning from NHS digital transformation image
Image: mundissima / Shutterstock.com.

Justin Day, CEO and co-founder of Cloud Gateway, considers what local government devolution can learn from NHS digital transformation.

The government’s recent devolution white paper represents the most significant reform of local government since the 1970s. Its ambitious agenda aims to modernise governance, streamline decision-making, and unlock new efficiencies in public service delivery. But, as councils prepare to adapt to these changes, how can they ensure these reforms truly benefit their communities? The answer lies in technology.

The integration of NHS Digital and NHSX into NHS England demonstrated how centralising digital transformation can enhance service delivery and improve outcomes. Local councils have a unique opportunity to harness these insights as they navigate their own transformation journeys.

A unified digital strategy

The NHS's journey shows just how important a unified digital strategy can be. Bringing together scattered systems, simplifying operations, and combining digital efforts, the merger paves the way for smarter, joined-up decision-making. For local councils, a similar approach could unlock significant benefits. Centralising digital transformation across regions or even within individual councils, can help avoid duplication, reduce costs, and ensure consistency in service delivery.

Successful models already exist. Exemplar authorities such as the West of England Combined Authority and Greater Manchester Combined Authority that have embraced digital transformation. These councils have shown how innovations like automated processes and data-driven services can lead to better outcomes for both residents and staff.

As local authorities transition from two-tier councils to single unitary authorities, devolution presents an opportunity to reimagine service delivery. Working together, councils can share best practices, consolidate their technology estates, and adopt shared platforms that benefit multiple authorities. This starts with investing in the right network infrastructure, the foundation which helps organisations adapt and evolve.

Key steps for councils:

• Leveraging unified cloud strategies – by combining budgets, councils can adopt a unified cloud posture across a unitary authority, using one or multiple Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) to manage services. This reduces duplication and ensures resources are allocated more efficiently. For instance, councils can negotiate better licensing agreements for cloud-based software resulting in lower costs per user. A cohesive cloud strategy also enables councils to scale services dynamically, improving reliability, user experience and performance monitoring.

• Optimising Wide Area Networks (WANs) – merged councils can restructure their WANs to ensure more efficient connectivity between sites and faster access to shared resources. A unified WAN design allows for better bandwidth management, improved performance, and easier troubleshooting. Councils can also negotiate better pricing for larger-scale WANs, ensuring reliable connectivity at lower costs.

• Simplifying internet access – by centralising internet connections into a hub, councils can eliminate redundant connections at individual sites. This approach reduces costs and simplifies management while freeing up resources for high-capacity connections or next-generation technologies like high-speed fibre or 5G.

• Streamlining data infrastructure – councils can consolidate their infrastructure under one roof, instead of hosting services in separate locations. They can also integrate Health & Social Care Network (HSCN) and Public Services Network (PSN) connections so users can access national resources through a single, secure route.

• Consistent cyber security and remote access – unified councils can enforce consistent cybersecurity measures such as encryption, multi-factor authentication, and network segmentation, strengthening the protection of backup data. In the event of an attack, a unified system allows for quicker identification, containment, and response, reducing unnecessary delays.

• Standardising remote access solutions – a consistent approach to remote access solutions, such as VPNs or Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), becomes possible for unified councils. This not only simplifies remote work for hybrid workers but also enhances security and reliability, as users can be managed and controls adjusted from one place.

Smarter service delivery

The NHS’s success in digital transformation shows how technology can reshape public services, and councils now have a similar opportunity. By pooling their budgets, council technology teams can unlock greater purchasing power, making it easier to negotiate better deals with IT suppliers. This collective approach helps lower costs for essentials like software licensing, hardware, and managed services. Helping to use resources more efficiently, simplify maintenance, and share data more seamlessly.

These steps don’t just save money, they open doors for innovative public-facing services. Devolution isn’t just about power and policy, it’s a chance to reimagine how councils operate, using technology to deliver smarter, more efficient services that genuinely improve citizens’ lives. With the right strategies and investments, local governments can turn this period of change into an era of opportunity.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Nursery Assistant - Part Time / Term Time

Essex County Council
Up to £25081.00 per annum + Pro Rata
Nursery Assistant - Part Time / Term TimePermanent, Part Time£25,081 Per Annum, Full Time Equivalent. Equal to £13.00 Per Hour.Location
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Marketing Co-ordinator - Active Essex

Essex County Council
£25081.00 - £26679.00 per annum + + 26 Days Leave % Local Gov Pension
Marketing Co-ordinator - Active EssexPermanent, Full Time£25,081 to £26,679 Per AnnumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Registered Childrens Home Manager

Essex County Council
£52428.00 - £64950.00 per annum
Registered Childrens Home ManagerPermanent, Full Time£52,428 to £64,950 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Assistant Coroner

Essex County Council
Up to £0.0000 per annum
Assistant CoronerPermanent, Part Time£516 per day. (half-daily rate £258 for hours worked up to 3.7)(in line with the JNC Coroners Circular 69)Locatio England, Essex, Chelmsford
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Senior Practitioner - Children and Families Hub, North Essex

Essex County Council
Up to £0.0000 per annum
Senior Practitioner - Children and Families Hub, North EssexPermanent, Full Time£45,217 to £54,395 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council
Linkedin Banner

Partner Content

Circular highways is a necessity not an aspiration – and it’s within our grasp

Shell is helping power the journey towards a circular paving industry with Shell Bitumen LT R, a new product for roads that uses plastics destined for landfill as part of the additives to make the bitumen.

Support from Effective Energy Group for Local Authorities to Deliver £430m Sustainable Warmth Funded Energy Efficiency Projects

Effective Energy Group is now offering its support to the 40 Local Authorities who have received a share of the £430m to deliver their projects on the ground by surveying properties and installing measures.

Pay.UK – the next step in Bacs’ evolution

Dougie Belmore explains how one of the main interfaces between you and Bacs is about to change.