Episode 9 - Transforming healthcare from hospital to high street

14 July 2026

In this episode, we explore how digital transformation is creating smarter healthcare, from the corridors of NHS hospitals to the counters of local pharmacies and GP surgeries.

Our host Lucy Siegle is joined by Cara Williams, Chief Information Officer, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust and Kevin Sureshkumar, Technical Director, Digital Transformation, WSP. You’ll hear about the world-class digital innovations being developed for new hospitals, while also learning what existing hospitals can do to use digital to make estates and care smarter.

Whether you're a healthcare professional, policymaker or simply curious about the future of the NHS, this episode offers a hopeful and practical look at how digital innovation is delivering real-world impact, one patient, one service, one community at a time.

Key takeaways from the podcast episode

Design with people: Technology succeeds when systems are designed around how clinicians work and how patients experience care.
Digitisation doesn’t equal transformation: Converting paper to digital is not transformation, process change is essential and will produce the productivity gains that allow clinicians to spend more time with patients.
Unlock data value: Healthcare data is abundant and underused. If it is more structured and connected it can improve decision-making and enable personalised care.
A shift to community care: A growing focus on community care can reduce reliance and pressure on hospitals. Digital connectivity between systems services and people will support this shift.
Increased control of our own data: Digitisation and transformation can empower patients to have more access and control of their data, improving our understanding of what is going on with our bodies.

If we can help people manage their own health, understand what’s going on with their bodies, and have control of their own data to explain that then that’s a really good starting point.

Cara Williams CIO, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

Cara Williams CIO, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

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Meet the speakers

Kevin Sureshkumar, Technical Director, Healthcare and Life Sciences, WSP

Kevin is a digital design and transition expert with a specialism in healthcare facilities. He has led digital workstream and digital enterprise architecture activities across new hospital projects, including The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, where our work often involves bridging the gap between technical solutions and practical healthcare delivery, ensuring that technology serves to enhance, rather than complicate, the patient experience.

Cara Williams, Chief Information Officer, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

Cara leads the Trust's digital transformation, focusing on modernising healthcare technology, integrating clinical pathways, and improving the patient experience through digital roadmaps. Prior to this, Cara held digital leadership positions at the Countess of Chester Hospital, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Manchester City Council. She holds an MBA in Public Sector Business Administration from the University of Chester.

Disclaimer

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