In an ever-evolving digital and policy landscape, PRSB’s Members and Partners continue to face both persistent challenges and emerging opportunities in health and care data. We’ve gathered insights into the key issues shaping their work today—and their hopes for what comes next.

Members: Striving for Consistency and Readiness

Our Members have expressed the everyday obstacles they face in ensuring the recording of high-quality data and meaningful use of it. A common theme is fragmentation—many are working with multiple systems that often fail to communicate with each other effectively. This creates inconsistencies in key definitions and data formats, making it difficult to build a coherent picture of care across organisations.

Structured data remains a challenge, with vital information still being recorded in ways that are hard to aggregate or analyse. Added to this are the familiar pressures of limited time and workforce resources, which further restrict the ability to clean, share or fully utilise data. And while the appetite for collaboration is strong, data sharing between organisations remains limited.

When asked about which areas could unlock improvements in data quality, Members pointed to several priorities:

• Mental health data
• Demographics
• Integration of social care with other forms of care
• Patient ability to input and access their own data
• Broader access to patient data (read and write)

These topics reflect a growing recognition that quality data must reflect the full breadth of a patient’s journey—including social, mental, and personal input—and be made accessible to both clinicians and patients.

Becoming AI Ready: High Aspirations, Real Barriers

The transition to AI-enhanced care is another area where ambition meets complexity. Our Members noted significant barriers to becoming “AI ready.” Chief among these is the need for high-quality, structured data, but the challenges don’t stop there. There is also a critical need to upskill the workforce, agree on principles for ethics and privacy, and establish mechanisms for ongoing algorithm monitoring.

Perhaps most fundamentally, Members questioned whether the current political and policy environment is prepared for the realities of AI in healthcare. For AI to succeed, the system needs more than just the technology—it needs the right governance, capacity, and cultural readiness.

Despite these hurdles, there is strong consensus that standardised records can enhance productivity and efficiency. Members highlighted several benefits:

• Easier sharing across platforms
• Reduced duplication of effort
• A common language for care
• More consistent practice
• Better decision-making support for clinicians

Suppliers: Seeking Clarity, Stability, and Collaboration

Our supplier partners are asking vital questions about the future direction of digital health. A key concern is the role of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in shaping AI regulation—how willing is the system to take measured risks on AI for personalised care? And how will the NHS keep up with the accelerating pace of technological change?

Data sharing across regions remains a sticking point. Partners are calling for improved interoperability through the effective use of existing standards and interfaces, before introducing new ones. There’s a clear appetite to build on what works rather than reinventing the wheel.

When discussing the changes within NHS England (NHSE), Partners were candid about the risks. Multiple changes running in parallel can lead to uncoordinated transformation, and there’s concern about the loss of momentum when programmes are abandoned mid-stream. There is also a perception that the complexity and cost of transitioning to new systems is underestimated, particularly when it comes to engaging suppliers.

Yet the hopes remain high:

• A stable and clear direction for digital transformation
• Time to invest in meaningful change
• Better data sharing and reduction of inefficiencies
• Genuine collaboration between health and care sectors
• A policy environment that allows innovations to mature before pivoting again

Conclusion: A Shared Vision, Grounded in Realism

PRSB Members and Partners are aligned in their vision of a more connected, data-driven, and patient-centred future. But they are also pragmatic about the steps required to get there. If we are to realise this future, we must listen closely to those on the ground—supporting them not just with tools and standards, but with the time, clarity, and stability they need to deliver lasting change.