At Digital Health Rewired 2026, one theme came through consistently across sessions, speakers and case studies.

• Health and care does not lack innovation.
• The real challenge lies in adoption, coordination and scale.

Across the event, there were clear examples of clinicians, teams and systems already using data and digital tools to improve outcomes. However, these successes are not yet being realised consistently across the system. Even within the same regions, adoption remains uneven.

The priority now is not to create new pilots. It is to scale what is already working.

Moving Beyond Pilots to System-Wide Change

In a session focused on the digital shift to community services, Markus Bolton, Graphnet Executive Director, emphasised the importance of connecting existing programmes and embedding change from the ground up.

As he noted:

Data is key, working from the ground up is key, we can make it happen. The path to success is engagement and the benefits are crystal clear, better outcomes are achievable.

Crucially, this is not theoretical. Markus shared strong evidence of what is already happening when data and proactive care models are applied consistently.

In East Kent, advanced analytics identified just 3% of residents accounting for nearly 12% of A&E attendances and 18.5% of emergency admissions. Around 500 of the highest-risk patients were enrolled into a remote monitoring programme, enabling earlier intervention through real-time data.

The results were significant:

• 69% reduction in emergency department visits
• 68.4% reduction in walk-in centre visits 
• 70% reduction in emergency admissions 

At a system level, population health approaches are also delivering measurable impact. In Cheshire East, segmentation and predictive modelling enabled coordinated, multidisciplinary interventions for high-risk residents.

This led to:

• 14.6% reduction in A&E attendances
• 26% reduction in emergency admissions
• Up to 48% reduction in A&E attendances in some communities 

Together, these examples reinforce a clear message: the building blocks already exist. The challenge now is connecting, embedding and scaling them across the system.

Data, Partnership and Prevention in Action

A powerful example of cross-sector collaboration came from Cheshire and Merseyside’s Safe & Well programme, which was presented on the Digital Frontline stage. 

The programme is led by Chris Buckels, Deputy Head of Business Intelligence at NHS Cheshire and Merseyside; Emma Lo, Programme Manager at Civic Health Innovation Labs; and Joanne Henderson, Head of Home Safety at Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service.

At its core, the programme uses GP data, combined with wider public sector datasets, to identify households at high risk of accidental fire. This includes individuals who may be particularly vulnerable due to factors such as frailty, long-term conditions or social circumstances.

By linking GP data with fire service and local authority intelligence through the CIPHA framework, the programme is able to take a proactive, preventative approach. Rather than responding after an incident, high-risk individuals are identified in advance and referred into targeted home safety interventions.

The programme has now been running for two years and is moving into its next phase, providing a compelling example of how data sharing and partnership working can deliver life-saving impact.

It also demonstrates how population health approaches can extend beyond healthcare, supporting wider public service transformation and helping to address risk factors before they escalate into emergencies.

Population Health: Turning Insight into Action

Across multiple sessions, a consistent message emerged: insight alone is not enough.

Matt Hennessey, Chief Intelligence and Analytics Officer at NHS Greater Manchester, emphasised:

Be clear about actions. Population health is pointless unless you act on it.

This was echoed by Malti Varshney, Director of Strategic Change and Population Health at Kent and Medway ICB:

Health improvement excites me. Population health enables us to take targeted action; improve patient experience and outcomes. Data helps us pinpoint where to target, what to do and what the results are.

The most effective programmes shared at Rewired were those that moved beyond dashboards and into practical, targeted interventions that improved outcomes.

Improving Outcomes Through Integrated Care

Integrated care records continue to play a central role in enabling more coordinated, patient-centred care.

In Greater Manchester, the Greater Manchester Care Record supports shared care planning and improved decision-making across organisations.

Dr Saif Ahmed, Clinical Lead for Digital Transformation at Health Innovation Manchester, highlighted the impact of digitising end-of-life care planning:

Over the past 12 months, we have been digitising EPaCCS… 86% of patients with GMCR EPaCCS now die in their preferred place of death compared to 44% without one.

EPaCCS is my proudest piece of work as a doctor due to the outcomes I see in end of life patients. Patient wishes are respected, there is better coordination of end of life care and more timely decision making.

This was reinforced by Professor Jacqui Cooper, Chief Nursing Information Officer at Health Innovation Manchester:

GMCR benefits include patients not needing to repeat their medical history and clinicians have access to the right care at the right time. Clinicians can identify patterns and plan care more effectively. We have the truest picture of the person in front of us.

A further example came from Buckinghamshire, where Caroline Pritchard from Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust shared how shared care records and risk assessment tools are being used to optimise patients for surgical readiness.

Their approach focuses on identifying patients earlier in the pathway, providing targeted support and coordinating care across teams before surgery takes place. This has led to improvements in patient health, more collaborative pathways between stakeholders, and more effective identification, follow-up and preparation of patients ahead of treatment.

A Consistent Message: Patient-Centred by Design

Across a wide range of sessions and topics, one message stood out:

If it is not patient-centred, it will not work. There was strong agreement that a ‘build it and they will come’ approach is no longer viable.

Gareth Thomas, Clinical Director for Digital and Data Products at Health Innovation Manchester, noted:

Dashboards and techniques must integrate seamlessly into clinical workflows and allow engagement with patients.

The most successful examples shared throughout the day were those designed around real-world needs, both for patients and for the professionals delivering care.

Communication as a Critical Enabler of Scale

A clear takeaway from Rewired is that scaling innovation is not just a technical challenge. It is also a communication challenge.

For change to be adopted, people need to understand:

• What is available
• Why it matters
• How it fits into their day-to-day roles 

They also need to feel that solutions have been designed with their needs in mind.

Equally important is the role of storytelling. There are already strong examples across the system of improved outcomes, reduced demand and more coordinated care.

Ensuring these stories are shared clearly and consistently will be key to driving wider adoption.

Final Thought

The message from Rewired was clear.

Health and care does not need more innovation.

It needs to connect, scale and embed what already works.

And above all, it must ensure that every solution is designed with patients at its centre.

A final thank you to everyone who visited the Graphnet Health stand during the event. It was fantastic to connect with so many colleagues, partners and peers.

And well done to the many NHS organisations who shared their experiences on stage. The openness, honesty and impact of these real-world stories were a powerful reminder of what is already being achieved across the system.