Health Technologies

Digital health leaders response to NHSE’s ‘back to basics’ priorities

NHS England has published its 2025/26 priorities and operational planning guidance, focusing on improving patient access, reducing waiting times, and enhancing operational efficiency.

Key priorities include reducing elective care waiting times, with a goal of ensuring 65 per cent of patients are treated within 18 weeks by March 2026, as well as improving A&E and ambulance response times.

The guidance also emphasises the use of digital tools to improve patient flow and reduce delays, with a target for 70 per cent of elective appointments to be managed through the NHS app by 2025.

The plan stresses the importance of moving towards a more devolved system, offering local autonomy while holding Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) accountable for meeting specific needs and performance standards.

Additionally, there is a focus on improving neighbourhood health service models, addressing inequalities, and reducing waste, with the goal of creating a more efficient, patient-centred system that meets local population needs.

Find out what digital health leaders think about the guidance and how it might shape the future of healthcare delivery.

Kavita Parmar, Co-founder, Word360 

“The focus on NHS fundamentals—shorter waiting times, timely GP appointments, and improved ambulance response—is key to restoring patient trust.

“As the NHS seeks greater efficiency, digital solutions like Word360’s AI-powered language services can play a vital role.

“Our platform integrates with existing systems to ensure clear communication across diverse patient populations, reducing delays and administrative burdens.

“By supporting the NHS’s drive for operational efficiency and patient-centred care, we help deliver more accessible, timely, and high-quality services, contributing to better value and improved patient outcomes.”

Nick Wilson, CEO, System C

“The understandable focus on waiting list targets misses the bigger picture. Yes, we need to reduce delays – but not at the expense of quality care.

“No amount of front-door efficiency matters if we can’t get patients safely discharged. Without proper social care funding, we’re simply creating a bottleneck at the back door”.

Rachael Grimaldi, CEO and Co-Founder, CardMedic

“It’s shocking that vital interventions, such as annual health checks for people with learning disabilities and women’s health hubs, are being scrapped, which will only exacerbate health inequalities in the long run.

“While reducing NHS waiting lists is crucial, the proposed £22bn won’t meet targets if critical factors are ignored.

“Over 21,053 operations were cancelled at the last minute for non-clinical reasons as of March 2024 which demonstrates the severe impact on external factors, such as interpreter access.

“This could increase morbidity and mortality, further exacerbating health inequalities and lengthening wait times.

“Robust interpreting services and continued preventative care are essential for patient safety, efficiency and health equity.”

Chris Davies, CEO, ICST

“Wes Streeting’s focus on reducing NHS targets and prioritising waiting times aligns with the urgent need to shift healthcare resources towards proactive, community-based care.

“The ‘left shift’ in the NHS, as outlined in the 10-year plan, aims to prevent people from requiring more intensive care by focusing on early interventions and preventive measures.

“At ICST, our suite of Digital Therapeutics Toolkits, now used in 100 per cent of NHS Wales GP practices and hospitals, and rolling out throughout the UK, is a prime example of this shift.

“By improving patient wellness and reducing A&E visits, we help empower patients to manage their health proactively, easing pressure on emergency services and contributing to the NHS’s goal of reducing waiting lists and improving efficiency.”

Phil Bottle, Managing Director, SARD

“I think most trust leaders will welcome the rationalisation of targets, but another widespread update to the NHS operating model, will hinder, not help local leaders meet challenging mandates around budget and productivity.

“The mandate reiterates that the public remain sceptical about NHS budgets being well spent.

“It’s well-known that there are huge amounts of waste in the system, but sweeping cuts in headcount – whether that’s substantive workforce or agency staff – are unsafe, and unethical.

“Trusts need more help in understanding how to utilise their workforce budgets appropriately and to do this, they need to gather forensic-level management information to inform strategic decisions around capacity and demand.”

Rachael Fox, Executive Vice President, UK & EMEA at Altera Digital Health

“I support the recently published NHS England Operational Planning Guidance and its streamlined approach to prioritise cutting waiting lists to avoid adverse/improve outcomes.

“It will clear the path to enable innovation and focus on what matters most to patients. It’s going to be a challenging year for the NHS.

“However, we are fully committed to supporting trusts through it with robust EPR, patient flow and interoperable solutions.

“Our fast, flexible and cost-effective approach means we can support ICSs to join up information, streamline processes and enhance collaboration at scale.

“This will be the key to unlocking significant productivity and efficiency gains to successfully meet the targets.”

Paul Wye, Head of AI, Answer Digital

“Labour’s first NHS mandate, and subsequent NHSE operational planning guidance makes it clear that every penny invested into the health service will now be more vital than ever.

“Despite the cost base reductions for all NHS organisations, the government’s commitment to investing in data and digital technology is a vital step towards building a modern, productive NHS.

“Data integration is pivotal in driving enhanced efficiency and productivity, enabling better coordinated care and improved outcomes for patients.

“In a move from analogue to digital, enhanced government support for programmes such as the the NHS App, full roll-out of EPRs and countrywide integration with the e-Referral Service are key elements of digitally pushing the NHS forward.

“The push to enhance the offering and capacity of our Community Diagnostic Centres will help tackle growing waiting lists, whilst a strategy for a safe and secure adoption of AI could support our diagnostic services even further”

Darren Ransley, Managing Director UK & Ireland at Better

“Although it’s clear from the Planning Guidance that 2025/26 is going to be a demanding year, I’m pleased to see that the government is simplifying its mandate.

“Reducing and cancelling other targets to get control of the elective backlog and its adverse effects is crucial.

“The NHS urgently needs innovation to drive this reform and sustainability, now more than ever, and it’s good to see that they are backing it with investment in data and digital.

“An integrated, digital NHS should be underpinned by both a platform and an open clinical data-driven approach, that supports innovative tactical solutions for local and regional problems and patient expectations, so that they don’t have to keep re-inventing technical architectures and processes.

“We have seen the impact this can have in many European hospitals, regions, and countries, as well as in the benefits being delivered by the OneLondon Universal Care Plan.”

Julian Coe, Managing Director, X-on Health

“Today’s announcement is a blow for the NHS overall, with both budget and staffing challenges on the horizon.

“Without consistent support the NHS will flounder, with levels of patient care ultimately likely to suffer as a result.

“While the emphasis on reducing GP appointment waiting times is a positive step, addressing this issue doesn’t require massive investment.

“Instead, it demands practical, hands-on support for every GP Practice Manager to maximise the potential of existing tools.

“There’s no national solution or quick fix, it requires tailored efforts at each practice.

“This means reducing technological complexity by offering fewer, better-integrated tools and providing ongoing, practical support to refine workflows.

Success lies in focused, detailed work on the ground.”

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