Attendees

Chair – representing Understanding Patient Data Presenters representing NHS England
3 members of the Secretariat Presenter representing DHSC
12 PPV Partners Representative from NHS FDP Communications
Representative from National Care Forum Representative from Office of the National Data Guardian
Representative from Adult Social Care

Date of next meeting 28 July 2026, 10am to midday

Introductions

The Chair opened the meeting and welcomed attendees.

The minutes from the previous meeting held on 26 May 2026 were approved and to be sent for publishing.

No declarations of interest were noted.

Digital transformation in the NHS – public deliberation

A representative from the Department of Health and Social Care presented early-stage plans for a public engagement programme on digital transformation in the NHS. The work is intended to align with the priorities set out in the NHS 10 Year Plan.

Four areas were identified as the focus for engagement:

1. NHS Online – the planned online hospitals programme, which would allow patients to access planned care digitally through the NHS app, including seeing specialists who are not limited by geography
2. Digital by default – moving away from paper-based processes, while ensuring analogue access remains available for those who need it
3. Artificial intelligence (AI) – including the use of NHS data to support AI research, and the use of AI to help triage patients
4. Digital citizen – focusing on how to make the NHS app as useful and accessible as possible, and how to support people who may struggle to use digital services The presentation emphasised that digital access will not replace traditional ways of contacting the NHS — analogue options will remain available.

A proposed “double deliberation” model was outlined, involving a longer engagement process (approximately two months of fieldwork) using a mixed methodology:

• Large-scale methods such as surveys and online platforms to capture a wide range of views
• Smaller, inclusive group sessions for people who are less heard or face additional barriers
• In-depth deliberative sessions to explore trade-offs and develop considered views

A draft timeline was shared:

• July–August 2026: Business case and procurement of an engagement supplier
• September–December 2026: Engagement design phase; early quantitative fieldwork (surveys) possible in December
• January–February 2027: Main fieldwork
• March 2027 onwards: Reporting and outputs

Panel members welcomed the plans and offered a range of suggestions:

• Engagement should actively include people experiencing digital poverty or those with low digital confidence, including through organisations running free digital skills support
• People with communication difficulties — including those with diagnoses or awaiting assessment — should be specifically included
• Members noted that many patients were already more adaptable to digital services than might be assumed, with virtual wards and remote consultations already widely used. However, certain groups, including older people and those in rural communities, need particular consideration
• GP surgery waiting rooms were suggested as an underused channel for sharing health information — reaching people before they begin to suffer health issues
• One member suggested focusing engagement on positive outcomes and benefits, rather than leading with risks, noting that most people want NHS services to work well
• Engagement should consider how to reach people through social media, with members noting that platforms such as TikTok and Instagram are increasingly being used to discuss NHS data topics
• Infographics were suggested as an effective format for communicating complex information
• Members emphasised the importance of transparency in communicating changes to NHS services

Actions agreed:

• Department of Health and Social Care to consider inclusive engagement approaches, including those experiencing digital exclusion and people with communication difficulties
• The panel to be kept updated as the engagement programme develops

NHS FDP comms review

An NHS England representative introduced this item. NHS England has been reviewing feedback received through its public engagement portal and other channels, including feedback from NHS trusts and integrated care boards (ICBs).

The feedback could be divided into four key themes:

• The suitability of the technology supplier for the FDP
• How people’s personal data is used, and the risk of misuse — including questions about who has access, where data is shared, and how people can opt out
• Value for money — whether the cost of the contract is justified by what is being delivered
• Whether the NHS and government could be trusted as data stewards

Panel members were asked to review existing communications content against these themes and provide feedback to help NHS England develop clearer, more accessible public-facing materials.

Discussion

Panel members reviewed draft communications lines across each of the four themes. Key feedback included:

• The current lines are too complex for the public: Panel members consistently felt the language is too jargon-heavy, long, and written more for professionals or media than for patients or the general public. Need to use plain English. Acronyms and technical terms need explaining on first use, unfamiliar words should be replaced, and content should use shorter sentences, bullet points, and clearer structure.
• Palantir remains the biggest source of concern: While there was broad support for the aims of FDP, panel members had unresolved concerns about Palantir, especially around political context, vendor lock-in, historical selection,
• Opt-out messaging is a reputational risk and needs more clarity concern was expressed around there being active misinformation spreading on social media that the national data opt-out prevents data being held on a Palantir-hosted platform. Clear, accurate language around what the opt-out does and does not cover is therefore critical.
• Public communications should focus on practical benefits and better channels: People are more likely to understand everyday benefits — fewer cancelled appointments, clinicians having the right information, smoother care — and the panel supported simpler formats such as infographics, animations, myth-busting content, social media, and GP waiting room screens.

Actions agreed:

• NHS England to use panel feedback to develop a simplified, public-friendly version of communications content
• NHS England to share existing FAQ content with the panel for feedback
• NHS England to consider including more background context on the contract’s history
• Panel members to submit any additional written feedback by email
• Panel members set a desktop exercise to review 3x NHS FDP webpage content before the August 2026 meeting – to feedback.

Any other business

The Chair noted there were no items raised under any other business.

Reminders:

• The next meeting of the panel will take place on 28 July, 10am to midday
• The deadline for submitting expenses is 5pm on Tuesday 4 August 2026.

The Chair closed the meeting and thanked all members for a productive discussion.

Minutes produced by the secretariat. This is the authoritative published record of the meeting. Individual contributions are not attributed to named individuals.