Why Systems Thinking is Vital to the NHS

As the NHS continues to face unprecedented pressure, the need for transformation has never been clearer. Record waiting lists, workforce shortages, and increasing operational strain are putting services under immense stress. Digital innovation will be crucial, but technology alone cannot address the deep-rooted, systemic issues affecting care.

Real change requires a shift in how services are understood, designed and delivered. That’s where user-centred systems thinking comes in.

Join us on Tuesday 3^rd March at 10-10:45am, for a webinar exploring how systems thinking can help the NHS design services that work in practice, not just on paper.

Understanding complexity in the NHS

Healthcare systems including processes, teams, pathways, data flows and technologies interact in ways that are often invisible until something goes wrong. Traditional approaches tend to focus on fixing isolated problems. Systems thinking takes a different view: it explores how everything fits together.

In this webinar, expert speakers from NEC Digital Studio and Loughborough University will share how system mapping, user research and sociotechnical design methods can uncover the real barriers to improvement – and the opportunities hidden with the complexity.

Why systems thinking matters now

User-centred systems thinking helps NHS organisations to:

• Identify and tackle root causes instead of surface-level symptoms
• Understand how decisions in one part of a system affect another
• Design services that support staff and patients
• Ensure digital solutions align with real-world workflows
• Build services that are safe, effective and sustainable
• Improve outcomes through evidence-based service change

By looking at the whole system, NHS teams can make better decisions and deliver lasting improvements that benefit patient, staff and organisations alike.

What the webinar will cover

• What systems thinking means in a healthcare setting
• Insights from real NHS case studies
• Why user-centred approaches are essential
• How organisations can embed systems thinking

Who should attend

• NHS digital and transformation leaders
• Service designers and UX professionals
• Clinicians involved in pathway redesign
• Operational and improvement teams
• Anyone interested in designing safer, more sustainable services

Register for the webinar

Join us on Tuesday 3^rd March, 10-10:45am to explore how systems thinking can help the NHS deliver better. Register now.