The NHS App enables millions of people to access essential healthcare services, but some struggle to use it. Tanja Galloway, Lisa Collins and Simon Davis explore the challenges and share practical insights for making user research inclusive and accessible so no one is left behind.

The NHS App enables millions of people to access essential healthcare services. As part of the government’s 10 Year Health Plan, by 2028 the NHS App will become a full digital front door to the NHS. Yet for many, this digital future feels out of reach. 

Some risk being left behind due to barriers that prevent them from accessing, or confidently using, the NHS App. 

Tero Väänänen explains why the NHS design system exists and why it plays an important role in fulfilling the 10-year health plan. He also describes recent changes to the frontend code behind the design system, and why it is important for teams to adopt them now.
 

The NHS is moving from analogue to digital, and the NHS design system plays a critical role in making sure that shift results in accessible and usable digital products. 

It does this by giving teams across the system a shared set of tools and standards, which reduce the effort needed to deliver digital products and services.

Sarah and Steven celebrate 10 years of the National Congenital Conditions and Rare Disease Registration Service (NCARDRS).

This year the National Congenital Conditions and Rare Disease Registration Service (NCARDRS), part of NHS England’s the National Disease Registration Service (NDRS), celebrates 10 years of advancing understanding and care for people affected by congenital and rare conditions. Reflecting on the past decade, we have come so far in using data to make a tangible difference and achieved so much, yet there remains much more still to do.

Martin Jarvis, Incident Management Lead in our Cyber Security Operations Centre (CSOC), explains how the preparedness of individual NHS organisations, working alongside central response capabilities, forms a protective partnership to keep the NHS safe.

Driving forward the NHS 10 Year Health Plan’s commitment to move 'from analogue to digital' means cyber security is more critical than ever. As we build a digitally-enabled health service, where patients can access care 24/7 through the NHS App and other digital channels, robust cyber defences are essential for patient safety and continuity of care.

Liz Glidewell explains why failing a GDS service assessment is a normal part of the improvement process – and how she supported the Be Part of Research team through multiple assessments to build a better, more accessible service for their users.

Government and NHS services have a duty to work for everyone, including those with low digital confidence and non-digital users. This is why services need to pass a GDS service assessment.

It’s not unusual for a service to fail its first assessment. But what happens next?