Jo Oldfield-Marsh – Electronic Patient Record Optimisation Programme Manager, Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust

Digital transformation in the NHS can sometimes feel like something that happens to people rather than for them. Jo Oldfield-Marsh is determined to make sure that is never the case at Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust.

As Electronic Patient Record Optimisation Programme Manager, Jo is leading the shift from paper-based processes to a fully connected digital system, digitising forms, replacing manual signatures, expanding electronic patient letters, and introducing secure text messaging. Plans to integrate tools such as the NHS App will give patients easier, faster access to appointments, care plans, and service information, reducing delays and missed appointments while freeing up staff time for direct care.

But what makes Jo’s approach distinctive is how she delivers change. Rather than simply moving paper forms online, she works with clinical teams to redesign processes from the ground up, making electronic patient record systems more intuitive, less administratively burdensome, and better suited to frontline care.

Inclusion sits at the heart of everything she does. Jo recognises that a one-size-fits-all digital approach will not work for every patient. Those with limited digital confidence, restricted technology access, or for whom English is not their first language all receive careful consideration. Paper communications remain available without delay for anyone who needs them, and QR codes are never assumed to be universally accessible.

“It’s not just about having a digital solution, saving paper, saving money and reducing our carbon footprint,” says Jo. “It’s about understanding people’s needs and making sure everyone can access information about their care in a way that works for them.”

Working closely with patient participation colleagues and outreach groups, Jo ensures patient voices actively shape this transformation — making digital work for everyone, not just the digitally confident.