NHS Providers has today published its fifth guide as part of the Digital Boards programme. The guide aims to increase board members' confidence in delivering digital at their trust and help them to avoid common mistakes.

Digital delivery principles is jointly produced with Public Digital, and is commissioned by Health Education England as part of their Digital Readiness Education Programme and supported by NHS England and NHS Improvement.

It outlines practical takeaways for trust leaders, shares peer learning and summarises key considerations for all board members when building and implementing digital services.

The briefing sets out eight principles for successful digital delivery, including how to:

• Deliver things that patients and staff need
• Set clear, realistic goals
• Test, measure and learn how it's working
• Think long term, deliver short term
• Invest in a dedicated, cross-functional inhouse digital team
• Get the best out of technology suppliers
• Build trust not barriers
• Not stick to the wrong plan.

Jenny Reindorp, interim director of programmes at NHS Providers, said:

"We have seen many trusts progress in implementing digital as a side effect of the pandemic, and it's important that we recognise and build on this momentum.

"To do this, it's essential that board members are equipped with the expertise they need to be confident in assuring digital delivery at their trusts.

"This guide is part of our programme to do just that – it provides practical examples of how trusts can implement digital decisions successfully, and shares learning from a range of trusts on the approaches they’ve taken. Our eight principles are designed to guide busy board leaders through transformative digital change.

"The Digital Boards programme continues to offer free development sessions for individual trust boards to support them in these conversations."

David Farrell, head of digital readiness education at Health Education England said:

"We welcome the publication of this latest Digital Boards leadership guide. The guides have been really well received by both board members and in fact by digital change leaders at all levels. The eight digital delivery principles set out, and the evaluation questions posed within, will be invaluable to anybody thinking about and leading digital transformation within their organisation."

Dan Sheldon, health technology specialist within the Public Digital network, said:

"Digital transformation is about much more than changing your IT system - it's likely you'll need to change how your organisation works and how care is delivered, too. This is not a straightforward process, and many organisations - both inside and outside the NHS - get themselves into a pickle when it comes to digital. These principles are designed to help NHS organisations avoid repeating the same mistakes."