Key Takeaways

• NHS England’s 2025/26 operational planning guidance reduces priorities from 32 to 18, aiming for 65% of patients to receive elective treatment within 18 weeks.
• The guidance emphasizes using digital tools to improve patient access, requiring at least 70% of elective appointments to be managed via the NHS App by 2025.
• Mixed reactions from digital health leaders highlight concerns that the focus on waiting times may neglect essential areas like social care reform and health equity.

NHS England Unveils New Operational Guidance

Digital health leaders are reacting with a mix of support and concern to the new operational planning guidance released by NHS England for 2025/26, which focuses on reducing elective waiting times and improving urgent care access. Published on January 30, 2025, the guidance marks a significant decrease in priorities from 32 last year to 18, signaling a streamlined approach amid ongoing pressures on the NHS.

A key goal is to ensure that 65% of patients receive elective treatment within 18 weeks by March 2026, with each trust expected to improve their performance by at least 5%. To meet this target, local providers must leverage digital tools to enhance efficiency, with a requirement that by 2025, at least 70% of elective appointments be available through the NHS App.

Amanda Pritchard, CEO of NHS England, emphasized the need to focus on productivity and efficiency to benefit both patients and taxpayers. The guidance urges integrated care boards and providers to scrutinize their workforce and spending, aiming for a minimum 30% reduction in agency costs. The document follows the government’s “Road to Recovery” mandate, aimed at reforming the NHS to meet pressing challenges such as reducing waiting times and enhancing access to primary care.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting stated that rather than overloading NHS leaders with targets, the new emphasis would prioritize the aspects that directly affect patients—namely, cutting waiting lists and improving access to care.

Despite the clear goals set forth, reactions from digital health suppliers are varied. Some acknowledge the potential benefits of a digital-first approach, while others caution that a narrow focus on waiting list targets could ignore pressing issues in adult social care and women’s health. Nick Wilson, CEO at System C, voiced concerns that efficiency measures should not compromise the quality of care, suggesting that inadequate social care funding could block necessary patient discharges.

Several industry leaders, including Matthew Taylor from NHS Confederation, recognized the ambitious nature of these goals in a financially constrained environment. Others argued that a broader perspective is necessary, with Sarah Woolnough from The King’s Fund warning that focusing solely on waiting times might overlook critical areas essential for creating a comprehensive health system.

Many respondents stressed the importance of a balanced approach that also addresses health inequalities and the infrastructure required for effective community-based care. Rachael Grimaldi, cofounder of CardMedic, brought attention to vital health interventions that are being sidelined, arguing that neglecting these could worsen long-term health disparities.

The guidance proposes that to operate within budgetary constraints, NHS providers must improve overall productivity by 4% and lower their cost base by at least 1%. Digital health suppliers also call for tailored, practical support rather than a one-size-fits-all solution to enhance healthcare delivery at individual practices.

As the NHS braces for what is anticipated to be a challenging year, the focus on digital solutions and streamlined operations is viewed as both an opportunity and a challenge. Stakeholders remain hopeful that the shift towards digitalization will improve patient flow and reduce waiting times but emphasize that comprehensive support for social care and community health initiatives will be essential for the system’s long-term sustainability and effectiveness.

The content above is a summary. For more details, see the source article.