Executive Summary
The South West London (SWL) 2025 spring engagement grant fund focused on understanding how technology can improve access to care and what digital barriers people face. The engagement with local communities aimed to find out how they feel about digital services and what may support them to be ready for digital change. This included focussing on increasing uptake and use of the NHS App, how people felt about technologies and ambient AI to improve access to digital services supporting pressures in our health and care services. Across all funds people were keen to share their views about digital technologies.
26 local voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations were funded to deliver 82 activities and to have in-depth conversations with 983 people from a range of ethnicities, socio-economic and health backgrounds.
Key findings:
- Digital tools are giving people more control over their health, especially those with long-term conditions who can view and manage records online.
- Digital isn’t one-size-fits-all, some people still face exclusion, including older people, those with limited English, and people with low literacy.
- Choice is key to trust, people still value face-to-face care, particularly those with mental health needs or who rely on social contact. Technology should complement, not replace, clinicians.
Next steps:
This insight will:
- Shape our providers’ digital strategies, transformation programmes and investments.
- Inform a business case for ambient voice technology across South West London in our four acute hospitals.
- Be discussed at relevant digital meetings and networks.
The insight from this report is informing local and regional health strategies, with findings shared across public health teams and key planning meetings across South West London.
Read the full report here Return to the insight bank