5 November 2025 RCPCH held its first ever Digital Paediatrics Conference at the ICC in Birmingham, and three young people from RCPCH &Us went along to tell doctors what digital means to them. Beginning with a quiz designed to test and surprise (did you know the largest group of people who use the NHS App are actually pensioners?), the group then spoke eloquently on a range of topics.
Here’s what they had to say:
Positives of Using Digital in Healthcare
“I’d like to begin by talking about the positives of using Digital in healthcare. Digital technology has become part of our daily lives, and most of us can relate to never being more than a metre away from our phones. With digital tools improving efficiency in so many parts of our routines, from sending quick iMessages, to procrastinating by scrolling through TikTok, or in my case as a medical student, double-checking my answers after an exam using ChatGPT, it is no surprise that digital healthcare has grown so significantly.
Digital healthcare is now used across a wide range of conditions and treatment pathways, bringing many benefits that improve the quality and accessibility of care.
These include:
1) Streamlined processes. One major benefit is how digital systems streamline care pathways, reducing waiting times and improving coordination between services. During my community paediatrics rotation, I saw children who were supported by multiple services, including physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, and social care. In these situations, having an integrated digital system is vital for joined-up care. Using electronic records means information is stored in one place and can be easily shared between teams. I’ve seen firsthand how much more effective this is compared to using paper notes, and how it helps ensure that no child slips through the cracks in communication. Many young people we spoke to said they don’t want to repeat their health story to numerous doctors every step of the way – it makes them feel frustrated and their needs undervalued. Parents and carers feel the burden of carrying paper from one consultation to the next – electronic records means that burden is removed.
2) Reducing administrative workload. Another key advantage of digital technology is its ability to reduce administrative workload. I’ve seen how tools such as Heidi, an AI-powered digital tool that allows clinicians to review patient history, notes, and results all in one place, as well as transcribe consultations, can significantly cut down the time spent on paperwork. This gives clinicians more time in appointments instead to focus on children and families, helping to build stronger relationships.
3) Empowering children, young people, and families. Beyond supporting staff, digital healthcare also empowers children, young people, and families to take more control of their health. Having access to test results and health information through the NHS App means they can stay informed without waiting for a phone call or appointment. I’ve found it personally reassuring to see results directly on the NHS App, as it gives a real sense of accessibility and helps reduce health anxiety. Children and young people we have spoken to reported feeling empowered through phone consultations, convenient prescription pick[1]ups, and apps like DexCom for tracking blood sugar, or managing medication schedules.
Challenges of using Digital in health care (digital inequalities)
As said, there are many benefits to digital technologies in healthcare, however there are also disadvantages and the risks of widening healthcare inequalities for those who are unable or unwilling to access services it offers – the digitally excluded.
1) Not everyone can access everything. These digital technologies aren’t yet made to accommodate everybody. The gap between the digitally included and the digitally excluded can widen as a result of the rapid progress of the technology. For example, there isn’t a solution (yet) for children and young people who do not have access to adequate or any WiFi, or children and young people who need to read in braille. This has been mentioned as a concern by children and young people in our RCPCH &Us Change NHS report, where 91% said that accessibility is a top priority for the NHS. We shouldn’t forget too that there are digitally excluded people not only in the UK but around the world, where the same technology may not yet be available.
2) When tech goes wrong. Technology can still easily go wrong, whether it’s inaccurate or failing systems, which can cause bigger issues, such as unnecessary A&E visits. For example, back in December last year, I spent over seven hours in A&E because my Continuous Glucose Monitor communicated the wrong blood glucose results to my pump, resulting in me treating low blood sugar when it was high in reality. Technology is great, but manual checks and a bit of common sense are always good to keep as a back up.
3) Removing the personal touch. There is also a danger that digital technology may over time start to replace the in-person experience, as we become more reliant on it. We know that many children and young people enjoy face-to-face contact, which is about more than just the medical. We wouldn’t want our health care to be reduced to mostly digital support. Although technology can help make our lives easier, we must also consider the risks that are carried by it. Although technology can be very good for managing different long term health conditions, we must remember that it isn’t perfect, and still needs a human touch.
Things we would like to see
By introducing digital health care technologies, we are enabling children and young people to have better access to healthcare, but we could be potentially widening the gap for access too. So how do we enable children and young people to thrive by delivering digital healthcare that is right for us? Children and young people have suggested that technology can be used in their care in some of these ways:
1) Using AI to summarise young people’s medical history. To get children and young people on board with the use of technology in a healthcare setting, it’s important to explain how technology will be used. It’s important to explain that the use of technology won’t affect their quality of care or the personal interaction they’ll have with you, and this will help them feel more comfortable with its implementation. In this instance, AI isn’t being used to diagnose the young person, but simply to highlight what’s relevant and important for you as their paediatrician. It saves time, time which can be used instead in your face-to-face consultation with them.
2) Promoting apps or pre-existing device features to help with the child’s medical needs. For example, setting an alarm for when to take medicine, or using an app to track blood sugar levels, can make a real difference. However, when suggesting the use of technology to help, it is important to consider the child’s individual circumstances. An eight year old may not have access to their own device to use at school to record when they last took their asthma inhaler. Situations like these arise a lot but it’s important to remember that there are ways around it too.
3) Signposting to good online resources. There are a lot of good resources to recommend, but there are also many false online resources, and it is often difficult for children and young people to know which ones to trust. Something that we recently learned, which is a simple and easy tip, is adding ‘forward slash NHS’ to the end of your health searches online. Other simple and easy tips like this would be really helpful to share with the children and young people you care for.
There needs to be a balance between the use of technology and not, as some people may not be able to access resources online for a variety of reasons. For example, it is important to still be able to call your GP practice in order to ask for a repeat prescription, as some people may not have access to a smartphone on which to use the NHS app, or just want the reassurance of speaking to a real person.
We don’t want healthcare professionals to be replaced by technology, but for technology to be used alongside to complement your care for us. It is about bringing us on the journey with you, sharing new digital developments and discussing new ideas as they emerge.
Our individual healthcare needs come first, so technology will mean something different to each of us. Talk to us, learn about our experiences, and work with us to embrace digital healthcare.”
