Delivering meaningful reform in the NHS is no easy task and the scale of the challenge facing the Government and NHS England should not be underestimated, as they look to unveil their 10 Year Health Plan. This is a system under immense pressure and it will take bold decisions, political will and collaboration, and a sustained effort to drive the kind of change that patients and NHS staff desperately need. Having experienced leaders at the helm who recognise the complexity of this task is reassuring, but we know support alone won’t drive change.
Ultimately, the success of the 10 Year Health Plan will rest not on ambition, but on action. Vague commitments and optimistic assumptions are not enough anymore. We need delivery, implementation, and measurable uptake, and we need it quickly and at scale. If we are to build a more resilient, productive and equitable NHS for the generations ahead, we don’t have ten years to wait.
Reducing the red tape that has historically delayed the rollout of cutting-edge innovation across the NHS is a vital step in the upcoming Plan. The proposed innovator passports should encourage and accelerate the implementation of life-saving medical technology that would otherwise get stuck in pilot mode, but we must go further.
As a founder of a healthtech platform using data and ambient AI, I’ve seen just how hard it is to get genuinely impactful innovation into the NHS, even when the technology works, the evidence base is there. If we are serious about building a health service fit for the future, innovation cannot remain confined to isolated schemes. It must become systemic and it must be accessible to all patients, not just some. It's imperative we refocus our collective efforts on real-world integration and not just early-stage promise, because there’s no shortage of amazing technology across the UK and particularly within the NHS. But to date there has been a lack of targeted investment and structured pathways to help new technologies land quickly, safely, and at scale.
How long have we been discussing the need to shift from an analogue to a digital-first model? This shift to digital is already happening but it's too slow and fragmented. In contrast, Proximie and other game-changing health technologies are scaling rapidly across the US and are making a tangible difference in clinicians and patients' lives. Stronger digital infrastructure and fewer bureaucratic hurdles make it easier to integrate technology directly into clinical pathways compared to the UK. We have seen how Electronic Health Records (EHRs) can deliver important improvements to patient care but on their own, they are simply not enough. To truly transform how patient care is delivered, we need to feed ambient and accurate real-time data directly to systems like EHRs - which are currently reliant on manual and inaccurate data entry - making it easier for clinicians to make decisions, collaborate, and focus on what matters most; looking after their patients.
Everyone within the NHS can see the tangible benefits of harnessing data and AI to create value, to streamline workflows and improve productivity. We’re already seeing what’s possible when technology is allowed to flourish to create data-driven operating theatres that are safer, smarter, and more connected. But delivering these benefits at scale depends on more than good ideas; it requires infrastructure, investment, and a clear route to scalable implementation. That’s why the decision to focus specific resources, such as the MHRA, on accelerating medical device innovation is important. Breaking down regulatory barriers will help turn more innovation into impact. But, none of this can come at the expense of patient safety. As new technologies enter the system more rapidly, we must ensure robust, real-time monitoring is in place.
The proposed patient safety system, which will use data to identify risks such as high rates of stillbirth or brain injury, is a promising start. But for it to be truly effective, it must be part of a broader push to integrate siloed data systems across the NHS.
This Plan must mark the beginning of real reform for patients. Innovation is not in short supply but the will, structure, and speed to implement it have been. If we truly want to build a future-facing NHS, we can’t afford to lose another decade to inertia. We can’t afford to lose another day. The time to act decisively, consistently and at scale is now.
