From 12 February 2026, NHS England will begin publishing monthly trust-level productivity statistics that include the contribution of digital and technology adoption - a first for the service [1]. 

This is more than a technical reporting change. It signals a fundamental shift in expectations: Digital isn’t just something organisations have - it’s something they must show is adding value, reducing inefficiency, and improving outcomes across pathways.

For NHS leaders this is both a challenge and an opportunity. Measuring digital contribution means seeing where digital is driving improvement, where it isn’t, and acting on that insight in near real-time.

What we’re already seeing across the health and care system is that some organisations are ahead of the curve - showing that when digital adoption is purposeful, connected and backed with analytics, the productivity gains are not just hypothetical - they’re measurable.

What the NHS Announcement Really Highlights

The new focus on productivity isn’t just about productivity metrics. It embeds an expectation that:

• Digital systems aren’t implemented in isolation - they must connect care
• Digital investment must lead to better outcomes or reduced demand
• Organisations must shift from reactive workflows to predictive and proactive care

This aligns with broader system priorities, including elective recovery, demand management, and prevention strategies - all areas where strategic digital use can move the dial.

But seeing digital contribution to productivity depends on:

1. Organisations having usable, trusted, joined-up data
2. Analytics that tell them where improvement is happening - and why
3. Targeted interventions informed by insight - not guesswork

If digital adoption is going to be judged on productivity, then evidence of impact matters.

Evidence from the Front Line: NHS Organisations Doing It Well

Here are examples from across the country showing how digital initiatives - tied to insight and response - are already delivering measurable performance improvement:

Frimley Health and Care ICS: Reducing Acute Demand

At Frimley Health and Care ICS, remote monitoring programmes supported by connected data delivered a nearly 40% reduction in A&E attendances among enrolled patients. In a separate innovative care trial within the same system, emergency hospital visits dropped by almost 70% for the targeted cohort.

These are significant improvements in acute demand - exactly the kind of measurable impact that aligns with the NHS’s new productivity focus.

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust: Theatre Efficiency

At East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, automation of perioperative workflows resulted in a 27-minute reduction in preparation time per surgical case. Across a theatre list, that time saving translates into improved utilisation, reduced delays and increased capacity - a clear productivity gain in the context of elective recovery pressures.

Cheshire and Merseyside ICS: Using Population Health Insight to Support Those Most at Risk of Fuel Poverty

In NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System, population health tools were used to identify patients most at risk of fuel poverty and associated respiratory deterioration. By combining health data with wider risk indicators, local partners were able to proactively target vulnerable households for support - helping prevent avoidable exacerbations and reduce winter pressure on acute services.

This initiative demonstrates that productivity is not only about operational efficiency within hospital walls. It is also about preventing avoidable demand before patients reach crisis point - particularly among high-risk populations where targeted intervention can reduce emergency activity and improve outcomes.

What These Cases Have in Common

Across these diverse initiatives, three clear themes emerge:

1. Data That Connects Care - Not Just Systems

Whether it’s shared care records or merged data platforms, connecting clinical context across settings enables smarter decision-making and smoother workflows.

2. Analytics That Drive Insight - Not Just Reports

Performance gains come when teams can see variation, understand patterns, and act early - not when they work with isolated dashboards.

3. Actionable Interventions Informed by Insight

From remote monitoring to pathway automation, the difference isn’t digital tools alone - it’s digital tools linked to evaluation that informs action.

These are exactly the kinds of initiatives the NHS’s new productivity reporting regime is designed to spotlight - because they translate digital adoption into measurable, operational value.

How Connected Intelligence Enables Measured Productivity

At Graphnet Health, we recognise that productivity improvement is not achieved by technology in isolation - it’s achieved when:

• Data is connected and trusted across providers
• Analytics are actionable and relevant to frontline decisions
• Predictive insight informs targeted intervention

Our ecosystem - including the Shared Care Record, CIPHA analytics, and dynamically integrated risk stratification through the Johns Hopkins ACG System - supports organisations in turning digital adoption into productivity-linked outcomes like those above.

By combining connected data with internationally recognised population health methodology, systems can:

• Identify high-risk cohorts responsible for disproportionate emergency demand
• Reduce unwarranted variation across pathways
• Target preventative interventions earlier
• Support more sustainable workforce and capacity planning

This is not hypothetical - it’s what NHS organisations are already doing now.

As Markus Bolton, Director at Graphnet Health, explains:

The NHS’s move to report trust-level productivity, with digital contribution included, is a welcome and overdue step. It reinforces that digital transformation must deliver measurable outcomes.

What we’re seeing in the field - from reduced emergency demand to theatre efficiency gains - is evidence that connected data, analytics and predictive insight are enabling organisations to work smarter, support clinicians better, and manage demand more proactively.

Productivity isn’t a number in a spreadsheet - it’s the result of better decision-making at every level of the system. That’s where real digital value lies.

Looking Ahead: What This Means for NHS Leaders

The NHS productivity agenda will continue to evolve. But early indicators show that systems already combining:

• Integrated data platform
• Performance and population health analytics
• Predictive and proactive insight

Are best positioned to demonstrate digital contribution and drive sustained improvement.

As the NHS’s new productivity data is published monthly, organisations that have invested in connected intelligence and evidence-based intervention will be the ones leading the narrative - not just reporting it.

Ready to Translate Digital Adoption into Measurable Impact?

If you’d like to explore how connected data, analytics and insight can support your organisation’s productivity goals - and help you demonstrate digital contribution with evidence - our team would be happy to talk.

Contact Graphnet Health to discuss how we can support your productivity and transformation priorities.

Sources

[1] Digital Health https://www.digitalhealth.net/2026/02/nhs-productivity-data-to-track-trusts-digital-and-tech-adoption/