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The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan for England has arrived, setting out reforms to transform care and harness innovation.
Referred to in the UK’s Industrial Strategy launched earlier this month, it highlights areas of alignment between health and economic growth objectives. In particular, there is a strong focus on embracing advances in technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and genomic science. There is also an ongoing commitment to the three shifts set out in the Labour Party’s pre-election manifesto in 2024: from hospital to the community; from analogue to digital; and from sickness to prevention.
Central to the plan are reforms to create a Neighbourhood Health Service, moving towards more preventative care and community-based services. Science and innovation are also a focus in creating its vision of a new model of care.
The plan identifies five transformative technologies – data, AI, genomic science, wearables and robotics – which it will draw on to help personalise care, improve outcomes and efficiencies, and support growth. The creation of a new Health Data Research Service, backed by up to £600 million of joint investment, and a commitment to expand surgical robot adoption are just two of a range of initiatives outlined.
This focus on embracing advances in areas such as AI and genomic science brings exciting opportunities to work with a wider network of sectors. It also aligns with the plans set out for life sciences and technology in supporting the delivery of economic growth in the UK – and which will encourage collaboration between business, academia and science.
The ambition in the plan is to be welcomed, especially its focus on prevention, early intervention, integrated community-based services and the use of technology. As with previous plans, moving towards implementation will mean matching that ambition with the necessary capacity, resources and expertise.
Our work across government, business, academia and science means we understand the importance of these changes in creating opportunities to collaborate. We look forward to seeing the plan’s key initiatives get underway and sharing our insight to support those who are involved in delivering the changes.
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About the author(s)
Robert is Practice Group Leader for the firm's commercial, employment, pensions and projects group and sits on Gowling WLG's UK Executive Board. He also co-leads our Government Sector (UK) practice and heads our Health and Care Sector (UK) team, working with clients across both the private and public health and care sectors. A commercial lawyer with more than 30 years' experience in a range of sectors, his career includes time spent in private practice, in industry as an in-house lawyer, and as legal counsel for a Government Department.
Robert Breedon
Robert is Practice Group Leader for the firm's commercial, employment, pensions and projects group and sits on Gowling WLG's UK Executive Board. He also co-leads our Government Sector (UK) practice and heads our Health and Care Sector (UK) team, working with clients across both the private and public health and care sectors. A commercial lawyer with more than 30 years' experience in a range of sectors, his career includes time spent in private practice, in industry as an in-house lawyer, and as legal counsel for a Government Department.