UWTSD graduate helping shape digital skills across NHS Wales

When Vicki Hayman-Teear enrolled on the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s MSc Digital Transformation for the Health and Care Professions, she was already an experienced healthcare professional who had seen first-hand both the opportunities and challenges facing the sector. Today, as Head of Digital Skills and Capability at Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW), she is helping shape how NHS Wales staff develop the skills and confidence needed to work in an increasingly digital world. 

A member of the programme’s first cohort, Vicki completed a PGDip in 2025 and believes her studies played a significant role in helping her take that next step in her career.

Building on clinical experience

A registered District Nurse by background, throughout her 15 year career with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Vicki progressed through a number of roles across community healthcare services before becoming a Senior Nurse. She became increasingly involved in service improvement and could see the potential for digital technology to improve care, release staff time and help services work differently. However, she quickly realised that introducing technology alone was not enough.

“I could see that introducing technology was only one part of the picture. If staff did not have the confidence, capability, time, leadership or practical support to use it, the benefits would never be fully realised.”

Wanting to better understand how digital transformation could create meaningful and lasting change, she enrolled on UWTSD’s MSc Digital Transformation for the Health and Care Professions.

Studying digital transformation

For Vicki, one of the programme’s greatest strengths was its focus on the realities of health and care.

“I did not want a generic technology qualification, and I was not looking to become an IT specialist. I wanted to become a stronger clinical leader who could bridge the gap between technology, the workforce and the realities of delivering care.”

The flexibility of the programme allowed her to continue in a demanding NHS leadership role while immediately applying new ideas and approaches to her day-to-day work.

As her studies progressed, Vicki developed a deeper understanding of digital strategy, workforce development and service transformation. While studying, she explored a project of her own focused on digital literacy within the community nursing workforce, bringing together ideas from the programme with her extensive clinical experience

“This brought together my clinical background and my growing interest in how we prepare and support staff for digitally enabled care. That theme has now become a central thread running through my national work.”

The programme changed the way Vicki thought about digital transformation, helping her see that successful change is about people as much as technology.

Shaping the future of NHS Wales

Today, Vicki leads the national Digitally Enabled Workforce Transformation Programme at HEIW, helping ensure NHS Wales staff have the capability, confidence and support needed to deliver digitally enabled care.

She credits the programme with giving her the knowledge, confidence and strategic perspective to broaden her impact beyond local service delivery.

“The programme gave me the academic grounding, strategic perspective and confidence to move from leading services locally into a national role.”

Importantly, Vicki does not see her current position as a move away from nursing. Instead, she sees it as an opportunity to apply her clinical experience in a different way, helping to influence workforce transformation across Wales and support thousands of healthcare professionals.

Inspiring future leaders

Vicki recently returned to the programme as a guest speaker during its residential weekend. As a member of the programme’s first cohort, her continued involvement offers current students the opportunity to hear from alumni who have gone on to make a significant impact within the health and care sector.

For those considering further study, her experience demonstrates how developing new knowledge and skills can open unexpected opportunities while building on an existing career.

Looking back on her own journey, Vicki is clear about the impact the programme has had.

“For me, it changed the way I thought about digital transformation and directly shaped the direction of my career. I genuinely would not be doing the work I am doing now without that experience.”

Further Information

Mared Anthony

Communications and PR Officer: Alumni Relations   
Corporate Communications and PR    
Email: mared.anthony@uwtsd.ac.uk    
Phone: +447482256996