The NHS 10 year health plan: What do we know so far?
- 30 June 2025
- The NHS App is central to the 10 year health plan with plans for an AI companion, mental health support and a clinical trial search feature
- Every baby born in the UK will undergo whole genome sequencing within a decade
- A single patient record will bring together patient health information, test results, and letters in one place
The government’s long-awaited NHS 10 year health plan is expected to be published this week and anticipation is growing.
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer first pledged the plan’s creation in response to Lord Darzi’s review of the NHS in England in September 2024.
The plan is infamously set to focus on three big shifts: analogue to digital, hospital to communities and sickness to prevention. Here’s a look at what we know so far…
One patient record to rule them all
Wes Streeting, health secretary, announced in October 2024 that a single patient record (SPR) would bring together patient health information, test results, and letters in one place through the NHS App.
A leaked draft report from the 10 year plan’s digital and technology working group, seen by Digital Health News, recommended that the SPR be “made available for research purposes by default, with opt out available by exception”.
The plans have sparked debate with some thinking the SPR is doomed to failure, others questioning why it’s taken so long and a confused public thinking that we already have one.
Plus suppliers invited to a “pre-market engagement” questioned links between the SPR and the controversial federated data platform.
The all-dancing, all-singing NHS App
The once maligned NHS App is central to the forthcoming plan and is apparently set to do everything from acting as a ChatGPT-like AI companion to providing ‘Amazon’ style prescription tracking.
It will also allow patients to search for data on health providers, send out appointment reminders and test results, provide mental health support and more.
‘Digital front doors’ for mental health care
Streeting said that the government is “putting digital front doors on mental health services” and will harness technology to provide 24-hour care.
This is part of plans to boost mental health support which include self-referral for talking therapies via the NHS App and hints about “AI-driven virtual support”.
A boost to clinical trials
The plan is intended to restore the UK’s position as “a world leader in clinical trials” by cutting bureaucracy and enabling people to search and sign up for trials via a new feature on… you guessed it, the NHS App.
DNA testing for every baby
Streeting told The Telegraph that every baby born in the UK will undergo whole genome sequencing within a decade.
The plan, backed by £650 million of investment in genomics, aims to move the NHS towards a sickness prevention model by allowing people to receive personalised care before symptoms occur.
Parents will be asked to consent for the tests, but the news is likely to spark concern around the security of genomic data.
A focus on health inequalities
The government pledged to invest in staff, medicines, technology and equipment for working class communities and coastal areas.
Streeting said £2.2bn will come from the deficit support funding used to prop up NHS trusts which have failed to meet their agreed spending plans. Instead, struggling trusts will be required to set out activity and costs so they can take steps to improve.
