The NHS is on a mission to modernise primary care, placing digital transformation at the centre of its strategy. Initiatives like the Modern General Practice Access (MGPA) model are driving improvements in patient access, aligning practice capacity with demand, and creating a more seamless experience for patients. Yet, many GP practices and Primary Care Networks (PCNs) face challenges in understanding where they stand on their digital & transformation journey and how to reach the next level.
To address this, we have developed the Digital & Transformation (D&T) Maturity Model, offering practices across England the opportunity to join a 45-minute call with our team to complete a self-assessment and receive a tailored maturity rating. This rating helps practices identify strengths and areas for growth, setting a clear path towards impactful digital transformation.
Why We Built the D&T Maturity Model
The need for a tailored approach to digital maturity in primary care has never been more pressing. While secondary care benefits from frameworks like the HIMSS Maturity Model, primary care requires a solution that reflects its unique challenges. Practices must balance direct patient needs with operational efficiency, often while managing limited resources. Recognising these realities, we designed the D&T Maturity Model to provide a holistic and practical framework that addresses these challenges head-on.
A Model Built for Primary Care
Our approach to building the D&T Maturity Model was guided by several key principles:
Holistic Transformation
Digital & transformation in primary care is not just about adopting new tools; itis about integrating these tools into daily practice to achieve seamless patient experiences and efficient workflows. Our model covers all aspects of a practice’s operations, from patient-facing services to behind-the-scenes processes.
Clarity and Actionability
We broke down digital maturity into Foundation, Developing, and Advanced stages across each transformation area. This makes it simple for practices to identify where they currently stand and what they need to do to progress, offering a clear pathway to improvement.
Alignment with NHS Strategy
The model aligns with NHS priorities, such as those outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan and the MGPA model. While MGPA focuses on enhancing patient access and better managing practice capacity, our model takes a broader view, covering six key pillars that ensure practices can achieve digital excellence across the board.
What the D&T Maturity Model Includes
The D&T Maturity Model is built around six pillars that provide a complete view of a practice’s digital and transformation capabilities:
Communication Foundations
Access
Patient Journeys
Workflows & Efficiencies
Workforce & Leadership
Demand & Capacity
Key Component of the Digital & Transformation Hub
The D&T Maturity Model is a foundational element of our Digital & Transformation Hub, a tool built to accelerate transformation in primary care. Practices start with a complimentary Global Assessment, a quick 20-minute evaluation that provides a tailored maturity rating across the six pillars. This rating serves as a launch point for deeper insights and targeted improvements:
In-Depth Assessments
Following the global assessment, practices can explore more detailed evaluations of their priority areas, ensuring a thorough understanding of specific challenges and opportunities.
Intelligent Action Planning
The Hub uses the insights from the In-depth Assessment to generate prioritised action plans. These plans focus on high-impact areas, helping practices address their most critical needs with a clear set of steps to follow.
Advanced Reporting and Progress Tracking
Practices can use the Hub’s reporting features to monitor their progress over time, adapting their strategies as needed. This allows them to demonstrate improvements to internal teams and external stakeholders, aligning their efforts with the NHS’s digital transformation goals.
The Digital & Transformation Maturity Model empowers GP practices and PCNs to align with NHS strategies like the MGPA, while also addressing broader areas that are essential for comprehensive transformation. Itis designed to help practices move beyond basic digital adoption towards creating a fully integrated approach that enhances patient care, improves operational efficiency, and supports staff wellbeing.
To support practices on this journey, we are offering a 45-minute call where they can complete the self-assessment, receive a tailored maturity rating, and gain insights into their digital and transformation priorities. This initial assessment is the first step towards building a more digitally mature, efficient, and patient-centred practice.
Book your session today and take the first step with the Digital & Transformation Hub. Together, we can help you achieve your full potential in an ever-evolving primary care landscape.
Blog by Helen Derbyshire
Helen is an experienced Business Manager with close to 10 years’ experience in Primary Care as a Managing Partner & Practice Manager. Helen has an in-depth knowledge of digital solutions that support Primary Care.
Helen has a wealth of experience in all aspects of practice management and the challenges faced. Furthermore, Helen has implemented digital solutions to help tackle many of these challenges. Helen was an early adopter of remote care in Nursing Home settings. Helen has experience with practice mergers and working at scale. Helen is passionate about utilising and developing digital solutions to help deliver system change and to help practices work smarter.
