Chief Information Officer Update - July 2026: Recognition, Innovation and the Road Ahead

Over the past four weeks, I have found myself reflecting on one of the most rewarding, challenging and exciting periods of my time as Chief Information Officer at Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust and Director of the Yorkshire & Humber Care Record.

The role of a CIO is often associated with technology, systems and infrastructure. In reality, it centres on people. Technology only succeeds when talented people work together, challenge each other, learn together and remain focused on improving outcomes for patients, service users and staff.

That is why what that stands out most strongly for me this month is recognition.

Recognition

Recently, Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust was notified that we have achieved BCS Platinum Approved Organisation status. This is the highest organisational recognition available through the Chartered Institute for IT and reflects a sustained commitment to professional development, professional registration, ethical practice and investment in our workforce.

While it would be easy to focus on the award itself, what matters most to me is what sits behind it. This recognition belongs to our entire digital, data and technology community. It reflects years of dedication from colleagues who continuously develop their skills, achieve professional accreditation, support one another and remain committed to delivering high-quality services. As someone who cares deeply about the professionalisation of digital health and care, seeing our organisation recognised in this way is a genuine source of pride.

Across the NHS, there is increasing recognition that Digital & Data professionals are critical to delivering the ambitions set out in national strategies and the NHS long-term vision. The conversations taking place nationally around workforce development, capability frameworks and professional recognition continue to gain momentum.

Focus on Delivery: Preparation and Innovation

Closer to home, our teams remain firmly focused on delivery.

One of our biggest priorities is preparing for the SystmOne Requesting and Results go-live. This programme represents another significant step forward in improving the experience of clinicians and reducing unnecessary duplication across care pathways.

As with every major change, there are countless hours of preparation taking place behind the scenes:

• Training and testing
• Clinical engagement
• Process redesign and assurance

These activities rarely make headlines, but they are the foundations upon which successful digital transformation is built. Recent programme discussions have reinforced both the scale of the work and the unwavering commitment of staff across the Trust to ensure we are ready.

Alongside this work, members of our digital team recently visited Alder Hey to learn more about Ambient Voice Technology (AVT). This was an opportunity to see how emerging technologies are beginning to support clinicians by reducing the administrative burden, allowing more attention to be focused entirely on patient care. It was encouraging to see innovation being applied in practical ways and to explore how similar approaches may support our own clinical services in the future. The pace of change within AI-enabled healthcare remains remarkable, and one of our core challenges as leaders is ensuring that we balance this innovation with safety, governance, and measurable benefits.

Collaboration

Another significant milestone has been the completion of our new Enabling Digital Strategy and Annual Digital Plan for 2026/27. Following extensive consultation with clinicians, operational colleagues, corporate teams and partner organisations, these documents are now progressing through our governance process and heading for approval.

I am particularly proud of the collaborative approach taken to develop them. Digital strategies should never sit in isolation from organisational priorities. Instead, they should be enabling documents that support wider ambitions around quality, safety, productivity, workforce development and patient experience. The extensive feedback we received helped strengthen the final plans and ensured they genuinely reflect the priorities of the organisation.

The SystmOne Wayfinder Go-Live

Perhaps the most exciting challenge ahead, however, is the preparation for the first-ever SystmOne Wayfinder go-live this August.

This is a significant milestone not only for Humber but for the wider SystmOne community. Through collaboration between Humber, the Yorkshire & Humber Care Record, NHS partners and suppliers, we have been leading the development of an approach that has the potential to support a more connected, intuitive and effective clinical experience.

What makes this particularly exciting is that we are not delivering this innovation solely for ourselves; we are helping to create a blueprint that others are already preparing to follow. There are currently around 25 organisations watching this development closely and planning their own journeys based on the lessons learned from our deployment.

Being first brings both opportunities and responsibilities. It means accepting uncertainty, solving problems that others have not yet encountered and maintaining confidence when there is no established blueprint to follow. Being first is rarely comfortable, but it is where innovation happens and where organisations learn the most.

The Road Ahead

Looking back over the past month, I am reminded that success in digital transformation relies on team work. Every achievement described above is built upon the efforts of project managers, analysts, trainers, developers, engineers, clinical leaders, information governance professionals, service managers and countless others working together towards shared goals.

As CIO, my role is often to provide direction, remove obstacles and create the conditions for success. The real achievements belong to the teams who deliver every day.

The recognition we have received through our BCS Platinum status is therefore not an endpoint. It is simply another milestone in a much longer journey - a journey that includes continuing to improve our services, embracing innovation responsibly, supporting our workforce and delivering the ambitions set out in our new digital strategy.

There will undoubtedly be challenges ahead. There always are. But as I look at the progress made over the past few weeks, I am profoundly optimistic about what comes next.

Most importantly, I am grateful to work alongside colleagues who continue to demonstrate professionalism, creativity, and commitment every single day.

Together, we are not just adopting technology. We are helping to shape the future of digital health and care.