Welcome to Suzi Parish

Principal Consultant

Hannah Granshaw

8 July 2025

A warm welcome to Suzi Parish who joins the SmartCo Future Health team as our new Principal Consultant

We sat down with Suzi to hear about her career journey, her new role and her first impressions of SmartCo Future Health. Read on to learn more about her background, passions and the experience she brings to the team.

Hi Suzi. What’s your new role, and what will you be focusing on?

I’m joining the team as a Principal Consultant. I’ll be focusing on supporting Trusts through their digital transformations and ensuring they get the most out of their systems.

What has your career looked like leading up to SmartCo?

My background is clinical – I trained and worked as a nurse. About 15 years ago, I became involved with digital systems. I was genuinely concerned about how these systems would impact clinical staff, especially if they weren’t included in their design. That sparked my journey into digital health.

What attracted you to SmartCo’s mission and team?

It’s the collaborative expertise – bringing together a wealth of knowledge to help Trusts optimise their systems and navigate smooth transitions to new systems. That focus on practical, informed support really resonated with me.

What areas of healthcare innovation are you most passionate about?

That’s a tough one – ultimately, we’re all aiming to improve patient care. But I’ve always been passionate about how innovation impacts staff. With increasing pressures and rising documentation demands, I’m focused on making their lives easier. Communicating local, tangible benefits to frontline teams is what I care most about.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in digital health?

It’s an amazing field that offers insight into how healthcare really works behind the scenes. You don’t need to be a technical expert – if you can communicate clearly, understand different perspectives, and explain things well, you’ll thrive.

How do you recharge outside of work?

I’m a huge sports fan – F1, Tour de France, Le Mans, TT. If I’m not watching something, I’ve usually got my head in a book or I’m at the theatre. I’m a big fan of musicals!

What’s a place on your travel bucket list and why?

Honestly, I’m a homebird at heart. I love holidays, but it’s less about the destination and more about being with my family and having fun together.

Copy link

Related News

News

Bronze Defence ERS Award

SmartCo Future Health is proud to announce that we have received the Bronze Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS), a milestone that reflects our deepening commitment to supporting the UK’s Armed Forces community. The ERS Bronze Award recognises employers who actively demonstrate support for service personnel, veterans, reservists and their families. This achievement follows our signing of the Armed Forces Covenant, reinforcing our pledge to create an inclusive and supportive environment for those who have served. At SmartCo Future Health, we recognise the exceptional skills, leadership qualities and resilience that service leavers and reservists bring. These strengths align closely with our values and mission to shape a healthier, smarter future for all. “We’re incredibly proud to receive the Bronze Award. Having served in the Armed Forces, I know how valuable it is when organisations not only recognise but champion the contributions of the Armed Forces community. At SmartCo Future Health, we’re committed to ensuring that veterans, reservists and their families feel supported, valued and empowered to thrive.” Adam Libby (Director of Operations and Former British Army Officer) This recognition marks an exciting step forward as we continue building pathways for service personnel to apply their skills and experience in meaningful and impactful roles across our organisation. We extend our thanks to everyone involved in securing this award and we look forward to progressing our support even further in the years ahead. SCFH Armed Forces Covenant Certificate

Hannah Granshaw

10 December 2025

News

The NHS Digital Revolution

The future of healthcare isn’t on its way. It’s already arrived. Across the NHS, a quiet revolution is taking place, reshaping how patients access care, how clinicians deliver it and how technology underpins every interaction. This isn’t about gadgets or apps for the sake of innovation. It’s about building a health system that is smarter, more connected and unwavering in its focus on outcomes. Why Digital Matters Now For decades, the NHS has been a beacon of universal care. But the pressures of rising demand, workforce challenges and financial constraints mean the old ways of working simply won’t cut it. Digital transformation isn’t a nice-to-have; it’s the foundation for a sustainable future. The NHS app is leading the charge. With record-breaking engagement, it’s proving that patients are ready for digital-first healthcare. From booking appointments to accessing prescriptions, the app is becoming more than a front door. It’s evolving into a health companion that sits in your pocket. Imagine a system where triage happens in seconds, guided by AI. Where patients don’t queue at A&E because they’ve already been directed to the right care setting. Where clinicians spend less time chasing data and more time delivering care. This is the promise of digital navigation and unified access models – the direction NHS England envisions for the platforms that will take us there. Prevention Will be a Game-Changer We often focus on treating illness, but the real prize lies in preventing it. Digital tools are enabling personalised health checks, at-home testing and proactive interventions. The proposal for how NHSE could use the digital Red Book is a great example – even if others have explored similar ideas already. It will give parents instant access to their child’s health records and vaccinations, while reducing the administrative burden on clinicians. The NHS is moving decisively from reactive care to proactive health management, and prevention is at the heart of this transformation. These innovations are not just about convenience, they represent a fundamental shift towards empowering individuals to take control of their health. Genomics is now emerging as a powerful driver of personalised prevention. By analysing an individual’s genetic makeup, clinicians can predict susceptibility to conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers years before symptoms appear. Integrating genomic data into the single patient record will allow clinicians to combine genetic insights with clinical data for more accurate risk assessments and tailored interventions. Initiatives like the NHS Genomic Medicine Service and the Generation Study are laying the groundwork for this future, sequencing thousands of genomes to identify risks early and improve population health. The ambition is clear from NHSE. Move genomics from specialist use cases into routine preventive care, supported by secure, interoperable systems and standardised APIs. Digital innovation and genomics-driven prevention is set to transform the NHS into a smarter, more personalised system that genuinely prioritises keeping people healthy. Those of us who have worked in the NHS for a while will have seen ambitious transformation plans come and go. Let’s hope this one takes hold, as there seems to be real momentum coming from NHSE right now, despite the challenges they continue to face. NHSE deserves recognition here, as this TechUK session was remarkably transparent and energetic, even though they themselves are uncertain about what’s happening within NHSE and among their colleagues. But here’s the hard truth, data is fragmented and holding us back. Today, patient information is scattered across systems and regions. The vision of a single patient record isn’t just aspirational, it’s essential. Standardised APIs, structured data and interoperability aren’t buzzwords; they’re the building blocks of a system that works for everyone but as many have mentioned the SPR needs to be held centrally and not end up in a complicated mess of integrated systems. Gary McAllister has been saying this for a long time now. Behind the Scenes Needs Great Infrastructure and Security None of this is possible without a solid foundation. Cloud migration, cybersecurity and AI-driven automation are reshaping the NHS, but progress in some areas isn’t fast enough to unlock their full potential. These investments aren’t glamorous, and patients may not see immediate frontline benefits, yet they are essential for resilience and scalability, and the NHS must accelerate adoption. Not everything belongs in the cloud; despite the common call to “move it all to the cloud,” that approach isn’t right. The goal should be Cloud Right, not Cloud First. Looking Ahead The NHS has been on a technological journey for three decades. It’s true that the work is complex and progress takes time, but the goal remains clear: a health service that consistently delivers better outcomes, improved efficiency and more personalised care will be one that rapidly embraces new technologies and brings them directly to the front line. But the future of healthcare isn’t defined by technology alone. It’s ultimately about people and equipping them with the tools to live healthier, happier lives. As access to care evolves, the burden on the system will naturally ease. About Mark Bishop Mark Bishop is a healthcare technology leader with 25 years’ experience driving digital innovation to improve patient outcomes. He leads SmartCo Future Health’s digital transformation initiatives, delivering advanced solutions that enhance care, achieve outstanding client results and position the company at the forefront of healthcare innovation. About SmartCo Future Health SmartCo Future Health is an award-winning consultancy shaping the future of healthcare. We bring a best-in-class team and future-focused approach; empowering clients, programmes and partners. We are a people first business, prioritising employee well-being, flexible working and equal opportunities for all.

Mark Bishop

4 December 2025

News

Great Place To Work Certification™

We’re thrilled to announce that SmartCo Future Health is officially Certified™ by Great Place To Work®. This prestigious recognition is based entirely on feedback from our employees, who share their experiences working with us. This year, 100% of our team said SmartCo Future Health is a great place to work. Great Place To Work® is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience and leadership behaviours that drive employee retention, innovation and market-leading performance. “At SmartCo Future Health, employee experience is a top priority every day. We owe our success to our dedicated team and are proud to celebrate their contributions that make this recognition possible.” Adam Libbey, Director of Operations Our Culture in Action SmartCo Future Health prides itself on creating an environment where employees can grow, innovate and feel supported, a philosophy that empowers our people to bring their best ideas forward, build meaningful careers and make a positive impact. We’re committed to driving impact beyond business, championing diversity and inclusion, supporting local communities and leading with sustainability. These values shape how we care for our people, how we work together, and how every team member can be proud of the difference they make. “Great Place To Work Certification is a highly coveted achievement that requires consistent and intentional dedication to the overall employee experience. By successfully earning this recognition, it is evident that SmartCo Future Health stands out as one of the top companies to work for, providing a great workplace environment for its employees.” Sarah Lewis-Kulin, the Vice President of Global Recognition at Great Place To Work. We’re incredibly proud of our people. Thank you for making SmartCo Future Health a great place to work.

Hannah Granshaw

24 November 2025

See all News