The NHS has dropped the new 10-year plan to completely transform how healthcare works in England. It’s not just about fixing what’s broken, but about revolutionising care for the future. Here’s some hot topics that have got us talking about how they might be delivered:
1) Tech-powered, people-first care
Think bigger, smarter, digital. The NHS App is evolving into a one-stop health hub—from booking appointments to mental health support. Plus, all newborns will get whole-genome sequencing within a decade, unlocking personalised, preventative care like never before.
But it’s not just shiny new tools—success requires a digitally savvy NHS workforce ready to bring tech to life in everyday care, and a system that proactively supports innovators. Without people, tech doesn’t work.
2) Local power, big impact
Say hello to Integrated Health Organisations— local teams managing health budgets with real control. This means tailored care that fits community and neighbourhood needs and cuts down on waste.
The catch? NHS leaders must level up, mastering systems thinking, teamwork across sectors, and joined-up planning. Local leadership just became the game changer.
3) Stopping illness before it starts
The plan puts prevention front and centre—tackling the root causes of poor health like poor housing, pollution, and lack of access to green spaces. It’s a fundamental shift from treating illness to actively creating health.
This approach depends on skilled professionals delivering early screening, fast diagnostics, and effective health education. It’s about empowering people to manage their own wellbeing much earlier—reducing long-term pressure on NHS services and improving lives at scale.
But we believe that strategy without action is just words. Future leaders need skills in change management, quality improvement, and building strong teams to navigate a complex system with fewer resources.
The NHS 10-Year Plan is ambitious. It’s digital, local, and people-powered, but, it needs talented, empowered NHS staff leading the way.
We need to talk more about how talent, know-how and experience can bring the plan to life and scale where this change is already happening.