Redesigning the surgical journey: Why digital transformation is no longer optional

Across healthcare systems globally, surgical teams are facing mounting pressures. In both NHS and private settings, rising case complexity, stretched resources, and disconnected surgical care pathways are contributing to delays, inefficiencies, and ultimately, poorer outcomes.

As a practising orthopaedic surgeon and the CEO of a digital health company, I see these challenges from both a clinical and systems perspective.

In England, more than 6 million people are currently waiting for elective care, representing over 7 million episodes. Despite record levels of activity across diagnostics and cancer pathways, many patients still wait far too long. By the end of 2024, one in nine people in England were waiting for elective care. That is over a million more than in early 2022. And while progress has been made in reducing two-year waits, the proportion waiting longer than the 18-week standard remains troublingly high.

Behind each of these figures is a human story: a patient whose treatment is delayed, a clinician juggling an overstretched schedule, a surgical team forced to make difficult decisions.

The surgical journey, for many, remains fragmented. Pre-operative assessments still rely heavily on paper forms and phone calls. Data remains siloed between departments. Theatre lists change at short notice. Follow-up is inconsistent. And patients are often left with little insight into what comes next.

These are not abstract workflow problems

They are daily realities that directly affect the quality and safety of care. We need a better, connected surgical care pathway.

Improving how we manage surgical care pathways does not necessarily require building new systems from scratch. But it does demand a more strategic approach. This means shifting from fragmented, reactive processes to coordinated, patient-centred care supported by digital innovation.

When purposefully designed and deployed, digital tools can close the gaps between departments, streamline communication, and create shared accountability. They also offer real-time access to information, standardised documentation, and clearer visibility across the care continuum.

In my own practice, I have seen how digitising pre-operative assessments can make a tangible difference. Patients can complete assessments remotely, clinicians can triage more efficiently, and hospitals can better allocate resources. This does not just reduce avoidable appointments and last-minute cancellations. It creates a calmer, more predictable experience for patients and staff alike.

Post-operatively, virtual ward technology can provide continuity of care once patients leave hospital. By supporting remote monitoring, digital discharge instructions, and virtual check-ins, these tools help patients recover safely at home while giving clinicians the information they need to intervene early if complications arise.

Patients often tell us they feel more informed, more confident, and more involved when digital tools are used to guide them through their care. That feedback matters.

Transformation does not mean disruption

There is a common misconception that digital transformation requires ripping up existing systems and starting again. In reality, some of the most impactful changes happen when we improve the everyday processes that clinicians rely on. Referrals, risk assessments, theatre scheduling, and discharge planning all offer opportunities for meaningful change.

But we cannot stop at digitising analogue processes. These improvements need to be part of a broader system wide shift. One that embeds digital tools across the entire surgical care pathway, from referral and pre-assessment through to post-operative recovery and follow-up.

Think of the cumulative time lost to chasing missing paperwork, resolving duplicate bookings, or reconciling conflicting data. These are the moments where well-designed digital platforms can quietly transform how care is delivered. No radical overhaul needed.

For clinicians, it is not about technology replacing judgement. It is about improving access to information, enhancing decision-making, and reducing the burden of unnecessary admin.

It is time to act

There is growing consensus that the way we deliver surgical care needs to evolve. Programmes like GIRFT and NHS IMPACT as well as the Elective Recovery Plan are laying the groundwork. But sustained progress will only happen if we embrace the full potential of digital transformation.

This is not just about infrastructure. It is about mindset. It means designing pathways around the needs of both patients and care teams. It means engaging stakeholders from theatre to boardroom. And it means choosing digital tools that are clinically led, user-friendly, and built for the realities of front-line care.

As clinicians, we want to focus on what matters: delivering safe, timely, high-quality care. Digital innovation, when implemented thoughtfully, can help us do just that.

On Wednesday 16th April, I will be joining colleagues from NHS and private healthcare for a free expert panel webinar to explore how we can make this vision a reality. Together, we will discuss what the future of surgical care pathways could look like and the practical steps we need to take to get there.

I hope you will join us.

Originally published by Surgery International