Digital transformation in 2025: our CEO’s healthcare predictions

The Data (Use and Access) Bill will drive data consolidation and interoperability, but will need to be enacted carefully.

Introduced to the House of Lords on 23 October, before having its second reading on 19 November, the Data (Use and Access) Bill (DUA Bill) is anticipated to enter the Lords’ Committee stage in December. The DUA Bill’s main intention is to ‘harness the power of data’ to encourage innovation and boost economic growth.

For the UK’s healthcare sector, this has been a pivotal step forward, enforcing the expectation that data must be shared seamlessly across clinical applications. With this push towards data consolidation and simplified data-sharing practices, Trusts can unlock greater value from their data while reducing inefficiencies. However, the journey is ongoing. Ensuring systems are interoperable without overwhelming Trusts with operational burdens will be a key challenge as the DUA Bill takes shape.

Responsible and compliant AI adoption will remain crucial to delivering clinical value in healthcare.

Like in previous years, AI was a central part of conversations throughout 2024, and 2025 will be no different. Now, the focus will be on ensuring we apply it responsibly in healthcare to deliver genuine clinical value, while complying with the newly adopted EU AI Act.

While some solutions have shown promise, CIOs are grappling with the risks of scaling AI across Trusts without clear strategies. As a lesson learned, proof of concept and careful governance must remain the foundation of AI adoption to ensure it enhances patient care without compromising safety or trust.

Balancing robust IT security with meaningful data extraction will be key to driving credible (and sustainable) progress.

Notable incidents throughout the year have highlighted just how important robust IT security in healthcare is. So, cybersecurity will remain a recurring theme throughout 2025, as Trusts look to safeguard the treasure trove of data at their disposal. This isn’t only key from a duty of care perspective, but in maintaining the integrity of their data to help drive change built on complete and accurate real-world insights.

The NHS has made strides in extracting meaningful insights from data – allowing Trusts to cut waiting lists and last-minute cancellations, better forecast A&E admissions to allocate frontline resources effectively, and improve cancer diagnostic pathways to enhance patient care. But this progress must go hand in hand with stronger protections to safeguard sensitive information. The challenge for 2025 will be maintaining this balance while expanding digital capabilities.

Futureproofing healthcare skills in line with AI and data shifts will be central to the NHS’ digital transformation efforts.

It’s no secret the European health sector is grappling with a growing skills gap. And as new technologies are introduced – especially in areas such as AI, machine learning, and advanced data analysis – this challenge is only becoming greater.

This year has shown that a dual focus on upskilling existing teams and partnering with external providers will be key to bridging knowledge gaps. Meanwhile, digital products should be both user-centric and user-friendly, reducing unnecessary training burdens and resistance to adoption. A resilient, well-supported workforce will be the backbone of digital maturity in 2025. And with a truly holistic and collaborative approach to digital transformation, the NHS can ensure skills-based challenges are addressed.

Committed to revolutionising the clinician : patient experience

Whatever 2025 has in store, our mission remains: to ensure clinicians have access to valuable patient data at the point of care and empower Trusts to extract more value from these insights.

What started as a traditional EDMS, MediViewer has transformed into a suite of advanced digital health solutions, designed to empower healthcare providers to unlock the full potential of their data. With even more innovation on the horizon, we will continue to collaborate with key stakeholders and Trusts to enhance our approach to unstructured data and digital health solutions.

Keen to make data work even harder for your Trust? Talk to us about the value MediViewer can bring in 2025. Or, explore our case studies to see the results for yourself.