Professional registration for NHS Digital Health Staff – a new era

This, it says, is to achieve the goals outlined in the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan and support the NHS’s shift from analogue to digital.

This recognition of the standards of public accountability, ethical practice and competence needed in digital health moves it closer to other established NHS professions.

NHS England now expects digital staff to enrol on a phased, affordable membership programme, developed in partnership with the Federation for Informatics Professionals (FEDIP).

FEDIP is the UK's only professional public register dedicated to health and care informatics professionals.

To become registered, individuals must be members of a FEDIP-accredited body.

It means that membership of BCS, as the largest of the five professional bodies accredited by FEDIP, will be at the heart of creating this new wave of digital health professionals. That will begin with senior roles and expand to all levels by 2031.

As dependence on digital systems continues to grow, NHS England is strengthening the professional support available to the DDaT workforce. It says this is to ensure it has the capability needed to deliver modern, data-driven, safe NHS care which is aligned to the 10 Year Health Plan.

DDaT Professional Registration for a better NHS

The professional expectations for DDaT staff were trailed at the Digital Health Rewired 2026 Conference by BCS Fellow Martin Dennys, Deputy Director, Digital Profession, Transformation Directorate, NHS England.

He said: “As digital becomes embedded in every part of patient care, we must ensure our DDaT professionals are supported with clear standards, affordable routes to membership and strong professional communities. This programme is a major step in strengthening our digital capability for the future.”

Andrew Griffiths, Chief Executive of the Federation for Informatics Professionals, said: “This partnership creates a clearer, more consistent approach to professional standards and development for the digital workforce, while making professional membership more affordable and accessible.”

Milestone welcomed by BCS and Health Trusts

BCS CEO Sharron Gunn said, “This is a vital step forward for NHSE. Millions depend on safe, secure digital healthcare every day.

“Expecting professional IT registration for digital, data, and technology staff recognises that these roles are now as critical to patient outcomes as clinical care itself. It sets a clear expectation that those designing, building, and maintaining NHS systems are held to consistent, high professional standards, underpinned by ethics, accountability and continuous development.”

In response, health trusts across England said this development was a game-changer. William Monaghan, Group Chief Digital Information Officer, University Hospitals of Leicester and University Hospitals of Northamptonshire, said: “Digital, data and technology professionals are fundamental to safe patient care in the modern NHS, and it's right that they receive the same professional recognition as other groups.

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“I am proud of my own FEDIP registration and what it stands for - a commitment to professional standards in a field that has lacked formal recognition for too long. We have about 30,000 colleagues who use digital systems every day across our group. The people behind these systems deserve professional standing, and this NHS England-FEDIP partnership is a welcome and important step.”

Jason Teoh, CIO of University Hospital Southampton, said: “The University Hospital Southampton has been a corporate member of the BCS for several years.  This announcement will be welcome news to the more than 100 UHS digital staff who are BCS members and will benefit from this new partnership.

“It recognises the important role we play in helping to deliver modern, safe and effective patient care, and gives a clear route to professional standing and development opportunities in the Digital, Data and Technology space.”

Professional Recognition of Skills Vital for Innovation, Safety and Recruitment

Dr Zoe Keddie, Chief Digital Information Officer at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Digital professions have been an important part of delivering safe clinical care for patients and service users for many years. The reliance on this group has rapidly increased and will continue to grow, with digital innovation at the heart of the NHS 10 Year Plan.

“I wholeheartedly welcome the role of digital professions being recognised as those who are delivering and securing business-critical services, supporting clinical colleagues to develop their skills and drive through innovation and the use of digital systems and data in the delivery of everyday patient care.

“This recognition of their value, skill and contribution will help us to boost morale, retain staff and attract the best to digital and data professionals in the NHS, helping shape the digital leadership agenda and deliver success for years to come.”

Role of Leadership

Kate Warriner, Chief Transformation and Digital Officer, Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and Chair of the North West Digital Skills Development Network, emphasised the role of leadership in the adoption of professional registration:  “I am delighted to see this partnership approach developing, bringing a real focus on professionalism in digital health and care. Senior leaders play a vital role in championing standards, modelling the right behaviours and creating the conditions for safe, effective and sustainable digital transformation.”

Speaking in a personal capacity,  Ian Fabbro FBCS AdvFEDIP, Director of Digital in the NHS, said: “With the welcome focus on Digital, Data and Technology and its increasingly complex and critical role in how the NHS delivers better care for our patients, we depend on colleagues’ expertise and professionalism to lead us.

“While formal education, training, and certification in IT skills have been available to us for many years, alignment with FEDIP and associated organisations, such as the BCS, offers an exciting route to recognise success and professionalism, and to attract and retain the talent we need to maintain progress. It’s a good next step by NHS England.”

The Fine Print: How the NHS England/ FEDIP Partnership works 

Affordability is built into the model through capped professional body membership costs for staff at Band 7 and below, as well as a low-cost FEDIP registration fee. This ensures equitable access across all FEDIP member professional bodies, regardless of discipline or role.

This recognises and structures development activity already undertaken through professional practice, peer-learning and formal training, rather than introducing new employer-mandated programmes.

The approach is similar to that of other NHS professions, such as HR, finance, and nursing.

FEDIP and accredited bodies

BCS was a founding member of FEDIP, established in 2016. The other professional bodies that are accredited as FEDIP partners are:  

• AphA – the Association of Professional Healthcare Analysts,
• CHIME - The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives,
• IHRIM - Institute of Health Records and Information Management,
• Socitm - Society for innovation, technology and modernisation
• CILIP - The UK’s library and information association.

FEDIP offers professional recognition at five levels, from Affiliate to Leading Practitioner. This helps validate skills, raise career standing, and ensure quality in informatics. It can support the NHS in building confidence among health boards and patients, strengthening staff capability, and ensuring equal status with other professions.