Norfolk and Waveney's NHS and council services are making significant progress on digital health transformation, with NHS App uptake reaching 65% locally and a county-wide Shared Care Record now accessed by more than 4,000 staff each month.

The Health Overview Select Committee received an update on 19 March 2026, covering digital progress across health and care services, advances in electronic patient records, and a growing focus on artificial intelligence.

A new data hub has gone live, linking datasets to support prevention planning and population health work across the county.

However, a major milestone — the launch of a new Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system for the Acute Hospitals Group — has been delayed and is now expected to go live in May 2027. Officers said delays had been caused by the complexity of supplier arrangements, local digital readiness, and the need to avoid disruption over the winter period. The programme is part of a national NHS frontline digitisation scheme.

Councillors raised concerns about digital exclusion — particularly for older or less confident residents, and those in rural parts of Norfolk with poor connectivity. Geoff Connell from Norfolk County Council said the authority runs a county-wide digital inclusion programme that has distributed more than 6,000 refurbished devices and offers one-to-one digital skills sessions in community settings. The programme has received national recognition.

On rural connectivity, Connell said superfast broadband coverage had reached 98% of the county, with Project Gigabit expanding quickly. Mobile coverage remained more challenging, but work was ongoing with network operators.

One councillor asked whether Norfolk was too reliant on US-based technology companies given recent international uncertainty. Officers replied that all NHS and council data is stored in the UK in line with legal requirements, regardless of where the companies originate.

The committee agreed to request a briefing note setting out evidence of the measurable impact digital transformation has had on patient care.