Digital Ecology Podcast

Hosted by Digital Ecology

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Mar 2026

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About the show

The Digital Ecology podcast creates a window into the backstory of technology adoption in the UK’s healthcare system. Through interviews with experts in the field, we shine a light on the inner workings of digital health and uncover a world of complexity and challenge. We are in the foothills of technology adoption, where the hype doesn’t always match the reality.

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30 recent

March 25, 202631 min

Future of Digital Health in 2026: Exploring AI, Equity, and Innovation in Healthcare

In this episode I speak with Pritesh Mistry, Fellow at the King's Fund, about the recent shifts and future direction of digital health in the NHS.We touch on the major developments of 2025, including structural changes, EPR rollout, and the launch of NHS Online. Pritesh highlights the NHS AI Ambassadors Group as a positive force for building skills and celebrating success in digital transformation.We discuss AI and ambient voice technology, what is hype versus reality, evidence gaps, and the complexity of adoption in clinical workflows. The importance of not just buying technology but also investing in staff, training, and relationships with suppliers to ensure sustainable change.We explore the impact of large language models like ChatGPT on both patients and clinicians, focusing on data protection and the need for clear guidance as these tools become more common.Discussing innovation, improvement, and transformation in terms of how NHS organisations can move ideas into practice, balancing governance with the freedom to test new approaches. Equity remains a key theme, with a call to embed diverse voices and consider the risks of bias as digital health evolves.Pritesh’s wish for the year ahead is that we continue to acknowledge and share the good work happening in digital health to inspire others.I hope this conversation provides practical insights for clinicians, researchers, and digital health professionals.If you found this episode informative, don't forget to leave a review and share your thoughts. Thank you for tuning in!The Digital Ecology Podcast is part of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network, your go-to audio destination for the latest in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Discover more at talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network.

December 8, 202538 min

Rethinking Digital Transformation: From Transactional Systems to Human-Centered Change

In this episode, I speak with Paul Taylor about the realities of digital transformation across health and social care, with a focus on how technology is adopted within the NHS and related sectors.Our conversation is rooted in Paul’s reflections on a blog he wrote critiquing digital transformation. Notably, his suggestion that “digital transformation was never about digital and rarely about transformation”.We start by reflecting on the optimism of the early days of social media and digital innovation, and how initial grassroots enthusiasm sometimes lost momentum as transformation programmes became corporatised and transactional. Paul Taylor shares his experience working inside large organisations and describes how the human and relational aspects of technology were often squeezed out as efficiency and scale took priority.We discuss the challenges of designing digital services for complex, relational sectors like health, housing and social care, including the risks of borrowing private sector methodologies that may not translate well to the realities of public service. We touch on persistent issues of digital exclusion and the false assumption that these challenges will just disappear as technology advances. There is recognition of the fact that people’s digital capabilities evolve over time, but so does the technology itself, making ongoing support and thoughtful design essential.One key theme is the importance of local and place-based approaches, and how meaningful innovation very often happens at a community level, not in top-down national programmes. We talk through what gets missed when services try to scale without considering local needs, and the potential for interoperability and open-source tools to enable grassroots innovation.We end on an optimistic note: highlighting renewed interest in locality and community across sectors, as well as the role of technology in supporting these approaches. If you’re interested in honest reflections on digital transformation, lessons learned from the past decade, and practical ideas for supporting innovation in your own team or community, I think you’ll find this episode valuable.If you found this episode informative, don't forget to leave a review and share your thoughts. Thank you for tuning in!The Digital Ecology Podcast is part of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network, your go-to audio destination for the latest in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Discover more at talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network.

November 3, 202530 min

Learning From Failure in Digital Health With Dr Sarah Crossland

In this episode, I speak with Dr Sarah Crossland about the role of failure in digital health innovation. Sarah is a lecturer in medical engineering at the University of Hull and a practising clinician specialising in orthotics. We first met at a conference focused on human factors in digital innovation, where Sarah gave a memorable talk about failure and its importance in the innovation process.Discussing Sarah’s varied career path, starting with her undergraduate degree in physics, and how experiencing setbacks and changes in direction played a role in helping her find her current niche at the intersection of engineering and clinical care. Sharing her story of an academic project that was technically successful as a research tool but failed to have the intended clinical impact. She explains how the project underappreciated important aspects such as end-user needs, clinical workflow, and the complexities involved in translating research into practical tools for clinicians and patients.We explore common challenges in digital health innovation. We also discuss the importance of user research, early engagement with diverse stakeholder groups, and learning from critical friends, especially those outside one’s immediate discipline or speciality.Sarah reflects on lessons learned and how her approach to new projects has changed, placing greater emphasis on patient and clinician input from the outset and on robust methods for testing and simulating new ideas before rolling them out. We also touched on the cultural aspect of failure in healthcare and research, and the need for safe environments for testing, learning, and even failing.If you are interested in why so many digital technologies struggle to achieve impact, and how failure can be reframed as a source of learning, I hope you find this episode insightful.If you found this episode informative, don't forget to leave a review and share your thoughts. Thank you for tuning in!The Digital Ecology Podcast is part of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network, your go-to audio destination for the latest in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Discover more at talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network.

September 15, 202529 min

Making Digital Health Accessible: Creativity, Co Design, and Collaboration at King’s Health Partners

In this episode I speak with Dr Lili Golmohammadi and Emelia Delaney, both research associates at King’s Health Partners Digital Health Hub. Lili and Emelia come from design backgrounds but with experience in different sectors; from eco design and engineering to fashion and sustainability, and have now found themselves working in digital health for the first time.We discuss their journeys into digital health and the ways in which design methods, including co-design and creative, speculative approaches, are being applied in healthcare settings. Both describe how they’ve had to adapt design techniques for working alongside health professionals, researchers, and patients, and creating accessible and supportive environments for participation.We chat about the challenges of co-design in healthcare, such as getting people comfortable with more creative and less traditional methods of working, the value of good facilitation, and the importance of scaffolding activities for different audiences. Emelia shares her interests in sustainability and the potential role for AI in the co-design process, while Lili discusses her experiences in translating speculative design approaches into more immediate, real-world healthcare solutions. Aimed at clinicians, researchers, and digital health professionals who want to understand the value and practice of co-design, and who may be seeking practical ways to involve users more meaningfully in their work. Links and Resources:For more information on the King’s Health Partners Digital Health Hub Stay connected and find the KHP Digital Health Hub on LinkedInIf you would like to stay regularly updated with the KHP Digital Health Hub's co-design offerings, please sign up to their NewsletterThey have an online course, Co-design for Digital Health Course, which includes 6 x 20 minute recorded sessions that can be completed in your own timeThey also have a Co-design for Digital Health Methods LibraryPlease find their Upcoming Workshops hereOr book one of their 1-2-1 advice sessions hereIf you found this episode informative, don't forget to leave a review and share your thoughts. Thank you for tuning in!The Digital Ecology Podcast is part of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network, your go-to audio destination for the latest in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Discover more at talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network.

August 14, 202533 min

Digital Innovation in the NHS: Exploring the New Ten Year Plan with Hatim Abdulhussein

In this episode I speak with Hatim Abdulhussein about the NHS’s new Ten Year Plan and what it means for digital transformation, innovation, and workforce development. Hatim is a practicing GP, CEO of Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex, and Honorary Professor of Innovation and AI at the University of Surrey. We begin with Hatim’s career journey, from his early experiences with digital systems as a junior doctor to leading national programmes on digital, AI, and robotics in health education, and now his current leadership role at a regional health innovation network. Hatim explains the essential function of Health Innovation Networks: there are 15 across England, each working to identify, test, and scale innovations that address the NHS’s biggest challenges and support economic growth within their regions. We then turn to the new Ten Year Plan. Hatim highlights the three main shifts set out in the plan: moving from analog to digital, hospital to community, and sickness to prevention. He notes that while the plan is ambitious, it draws many ongoing conversations and sets out practical mechanisms for change, such as development of the NHS app, a single patient record, and more ambitious use of AI.We discuss the challenges of implementation, touching on the lessons from past national IT efforts, the importance of flexible policy, the need for clear national and regional roles, and how ringfenced digital funding will help build momentum. Hatim also shares thoughts on what should be standardised on a national or regional level, and where providers and local champions should have autonomy to innovate and test new ideas.Finally, I ask Hatim to look ahead to 2035. We discuss the potential impact of a truly shared single patient record, and the ways AI could ease administrative burdens for clinicians. Hatim’s boldest bet for the future is the genuine shift of care from acute hospitals to the community that is powered by technology, for the benefit of patients and the wider health system.I hope you find this episode a useful and balanced overview of where NHS digital transformation is headed, what’s realistic, and what challenges and opportunities lie ahead.If people want to find out more about Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex and see some examples of otheir role in finding, testing and implementing innovation in action: Annual review 2024-25 - Health Innovation Kent Surrey SussexIf you found this episode informative, don't forget to leave a review and share your thoughts. Thank you for tuning in!The Digital Ecology Podcast is part of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network, your go-to audio destination for the latest in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Discover more at talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network.

July 21, 202528 min

People, Process, Technology: Why NHS Innovation Needs a Human Approach with Dr Helen Hughes

In this episode I speak with Dr Helen Hughes, Associate Professor of Organizational Psychology at the University of Leeds and Director of the Behaviour Lab at Leeds Business School. Helen’s work focuses on the human side of systems, particularly how people think, feel and behave in complex environments such as healthcare and engineering.We discuss what ‘human factors’ means as a discipline and its application to both patient safety and wider technology adoption. Helen outlines the interplay between people, processes, technologies, and the overall healthcare system, emphasising that technology adoption always affects and is affected by the human and social dimensions of organisations. She says that it is not enough to focus on the technical aspects of adoption alone; the environment, existing processes, and particularly the people are equally, if not more, important.Helen shares insights from her work supporting technology implementation in healthcare and describes the pitfalls of “cookie cutter” approaches that fail to account for different cultures, contexts, and workflows across wards or organisations. Stressing the importance of early and sustained stakeholder engagement, bringing people with you rather than imposing change.We also discuss the idea of “system readiness.” While there are established ways of assessing if a technology is ready for use, there’s far less focus on understanding if the wider system is ready for the changes a new technology might bring. This episode is a useful introduction to the field of human factors, grounded in real-world experience and with practical takeaways for clinicians, digital teams, and technology companies alike.If you found this episode informative, don't forget to leave a review and share your thoughts. Thank you for tuning in!The Digital Ecology Podcast is part of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network, your go-to audio destination for the latest in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Discover more at talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network.

May 31, 202527 min

Behind the Scenes of digital in NHS: Rochelle Gold on User-Centered Design

In this episode I speak with Rochelle Gold, Head of User Research at NHS England. Rochelle’s background spans research in health, social care, and digital technology, and we explore the evolving role of user research and user-centred design in the NHS, both on a national scale and at the local level.Rochelle shares what her main role involves, from setting standards and policy for ethical and safe user research across NHS England, to overseeing design operations and leading and developing user centered maturity across NHS products and services. We discuss in detail what user research really means in practice and how it’s less about asking people what they want and more about understanding their real needs and behaviours in context. We touch on Rochelle’s own career journey, her original training as an occupational psychologist, and the many backgrounds people bring into user research roles, from clinical practice, other types of research, and beyond. Finally, we discuss the wider future of user-centred design in the NHS, including the need for stronger connections between digital, policy, and operational teams, and the growing importance of multidisciplinary working, including with QI and improvement colleagues, to deliver better services for both staff and patients.This is for anyone working in digital health, clinical leadership, or service improvement who wants to better understand what robust user research and user-centred design look like in practice, and how these principles can be applied across different levels of the NHS.If you found this episode informative, don't forget to leave a review and share your thoughts. Thank you for tuning in!The Digital Ecology Podcast is part of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network, your go-to audio destination for the latest in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Discover more at talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network.

March 25, 202535 min

S3 E3 - Designing for Mortality and Innovation in Healthcare with Ivor Williams

In this episode, I sit down with Ivor Williams, a designer with a background in both UX and product design with a focus on mortality and end of life care. Ivor brings a unique perspective to design in healthcare with his experience spanning academia, startups, and current independent venture, Delving into his work at Imperial College with palliative and end of life care projects. We talked about what it means to design for "death care", an area that bridges end of life care with the broader context of funeral services and legacy. Ivor shares insights on how design can facilitate change in outdated systems, drawing parallels to technological disruptions in other industries.We then explore his own company, Mortal, a service that encourages individuals to engage with their mortality. Ivor describes the five-week program that helps people confront existential questions in a group setting, highlighting how early contemplation can lead to a fuller life.Ivor reflects on his time at the Helix Centre and Acurex, discussing the role of design in healthcare innovation. He emphasises the importance of human connection, embracing difficult conversations, and how technology should augment rather than replace human capabilities.We talk about the importance of designing with a systems-thinking approach in the NHS, recognising that sustainable change requires understanding the interplay of people, processes, and technology.Join us for an enlightening discussion about the intersections of design, healthcare, and mortality, and how these considerations can transform patient care and healthcare systems alike.If you found this episode informative, don't forget to leave a review and share your thoughts. Thank you for tuning in!The Digital Ecology Podcast is part of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network, your go-to audio destination for the latest in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Discover more at talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network.

March 11, 202538 min

S3 E2 - Journey of Tiny Medical Apps: Greg Burch on Digital Health Innovations

In this episode, I sit down with Greg Burch, a specialty doctor in the emergency department and co-founder of Tiny Medical Apps. Greg has been working in clinical settings for many years and shares his journey into the world of digital health innovation.Greg's professional background and the inception of Tiny Medical Apps, an app designed to support young individuals in managing their health conditions. He explains the rationale behind their digital health passport and why they started with asthma. We also discuss the challenges they've faced, such as regulatory barriers and the complexity of the NHS landscape.Greg gives us insight into the assumptions they had when starting their digital health company and how those were challenged. He shares the marketing strategies they've employed, such as their use of TikTok to reach young audiences, and the importance of understanding both user needs and system navigation in health tech innovation.Greg offers his perspective on the future of digital health, the tenacity needed to succeed, and how Tiny Medical Apps hopes to create a sustainable impact in addressing health inequalities. Outlining  his hope for better funding models that focus on long-term impact and benefit smaller, high-need groups.Join us as Greg shares valuable lessons and insights on navigating the intersection of clinical practice and digital health innovation.If you found this episode informative, don't forget to leave a review and share your thoughts. Thank you for tuning in!The Digital Ecology Podcast is part of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network, your go-to audio destination for the latest in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Discover more at talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network.

December 22, 202432 min

S3 E1 - User-Centered Design in the NHS: Personas, Prototypes, and Pain Points with Lindsay Lewis & Hayley Grafton

In this episode, I speak with Hayley Grafton, the Chief Nursing Information Officer at University Hospitals Leicester, and Lindsay Lewis, a master’s student in Service Design at the University of the Arts, London. We discuss their collaborative project focusing on medication management, which is part of Lindsay's Master's degree project.Delving into the use of personas to improve user engagement with new systems. Lindsay shares her approach to developing personas based on survey data from 30 nurses, where she categorized them into three groups: Adopters, Pragmatic Acceptors, and Worried Skeptics.Hayley and Lindsay explain the complexities of change management in the resource-constrained NHS environment. Hayley describes how Shared Decision-Making Councils at her trust give staff time to improve workflows and suggests they could involve nurses in solving operational challenges in the future.Lindsay provides valuable insights from her user research, emphasising the significance of understanding user attitudes. Her research highlighted equipment challenges and system workflow issues, offering a clearer view of why scanning compliance was low among nurses.We also explored the cultural and practical barriers to adopting new technologies, such as the culture of overriding scan prompts due to initial equipment challenges. Lindsay's creation of storyboards helped articulate workflow inefficiencies, which was pivotal in understanding the issues nurses faced.The episode is rich with information on service design, user-centered approaches, and the practical challenges of integrating new digital systems in the NHS. I invite you to listen and gain insights into this impactful collaboration.If you found this episode informative, don't forget to leave a review and share your thoughts. Thank you for tuning in!The Digital Ecology Podcast is part of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network, your go-to audio destination for the latest in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Discover more at talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network.