NHSE’s Dermot Ryan confirmed for Summer Schools 2026

Dermot Ryan, director of digital transformation at NHS England, has been announced as the latest speaker at Digital Health Summer Schools 2026.

A total of £2.5 billion is being invested in frontline productivity, but challenges remain over clinical engagement, rebalancing funding to non-acute settings and interoperability.

At Summer Schools next month, Ryan will discuss the execution of NHS England’s new Frontline Productivity Programme, for which he is responsible for.

He is one of several NHS England leaders featured in this year’s working programme, including national CCIO Dr Alec Price-Forbes, national CNIO Helen Balsdon and national CMIO Dr Wajid Hussain. Get the latest in the national direction for digital health and ask them your questions in closed door sessions at the event.

The conference, which takes place on 16-17 July at the University of Nottingham, has a revamped format which doubles down on small-group and interactive sessions to provide attendees with more practical insights and deeper knowledge exchange.

The CPD-accredited programme will offer invaluable peer knowledge exchange and arm attendees with practical leadership skills to take back to their organisation.

Highlights include a session titled ‘AI is now the top risk to patient safety: what can organisations and patients do to protect themselves?’ which features leaders from Guy’s and St Thomas’, University Hospitals of Northamptonshire, West London NHS and Patient Safety Learning.

An unmissable panel session – ‘One year on from the 10 year health plan: where are we and what’s next?’ will also take place, featuring Salma Yasmeen, chief executive at Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.

She will be joined by Dr Masoon Nazir, medical director for integrated care at NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB, and Dr Penny Kechagioglou, chair of the CCIO Networks Advisory Panel and CCIO at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust.

The premier learning and networking event for digital health leaders is exclusively for members of the Digital Health Networks, the UK’s largest health IT community, and is open to current and aspiring digital health leaders.

The event is supported by Networks sponsors AWS, Better, CereCore, Dell Technologies, InterSystems, Microsoft, Nervecentre, Optum Emis and Salesforce.

If you’re a current or aspiring digital leader, this is an opportunity to hear directly from leaders shaping NHS England’s digital-first future.

Tickets from £399. Workshop bookings open soon, with limited spaces. Register now to get early access to workshop bookings and secure your place in your preferred sessions.

Register here.