NHS 10 Year Plan Response
July 4, 2025Post Title
Here Dr Rishi Das-Gupta, CEO of Health Innovation Network (HIN) South London, gives his initial views on the NHS's 10 Year Plan, published yesterday, highlighting some of the areas of implementation that the HIN SL is already working on with partners.
This week the Government finally released its 10 Year Plan for the NHS: Fit For the Future. Although a number of new policies had been leaked before it went live (such as a new innovation passport), there were some interesting additions around innovation with a particular focus on digital solutions.
While some of these were national, the local examples used were those that we have supported, including ambient voice technology and expansion of virtual wards. The creation of innovation zones is something we welcome and have been working with partners to prepare for. From the work we have already done in these areas, I believe could make a massive difference to patients and staff, working with NHS and other health and social care partners over the next 10 years.
For a start, it was great to see the importance of innovation underlined, and with a specific shout out for the work of 15 health innovation networks in this. The reiteration in today’s plan of the three shifts will help us to continue to build on this:
We have long been supporting the new ambient voice and AI scribe technologies highlighted in the plan. Following our initial horizon scan in 2023, we worked with clinicians, technology leaders and patient representatives to identify what features are required in this new class of product, how it would need to integrate with existing systems, defined the likely benefits (and risks) and information that we’d need to test in a pilot.
The pilot has been across eight sites in London and led by Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). We worked closely with GOSH and NHSE London teams throughout the pilot to develop the TEST framework to inform procurement as this programme moves into roll-out. We now look forward to supporting this across one of our ICBs in the near future.
Sickness to Prevention
We have focused on reducing inequalities in physical health care for people with serious mental illness (SMI) by increasing the uptake of physical health checks. Funded by South East London ICB.
This project sought to reduce health inequalities by increasing access to and uptake of physical health checks for people with SMI. The HIN facilitated introductions to GP practices and supported the Oxleas Agile Intervention team with logistics.
The Oxleas team completed data validation of over 2,400 SMI registered patient records and completed ~446 full or partial physical health checks.
In collaboration with King’s Health Partners and south east London Trusts, we developed a demand and capacity model to support workforce planning and standardise the implementation of type 1 diabetes hybrid closed loop technology and support a consistent and equitable rollout. We also evaluated a cardiovascular disease prevention programmes in south west London, demonstrating the positive impact of an innovative pilot on reducing health markers such as cholesterol and blood pressure, as well as an average weight loss of 1.18kg during the programme.
Hospital to Community
Our care home pioneers programme has supported more than 150 senior care home staff from all 12 boroughs of south London since it started in 2018.
Each works on their own project to benefit residents, with one pioneer able to increase fluid consumption by over 20% in two thirds of residents identified as being at high risk of dehydration.
We identified lessons learned and opportunities for future efficiencies in the south east London ICB use of remote monitoring technology within virtual wards to support those with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), heart failure, and those recovering from surgery.
Extra support was given for integrated neighbourhood teams through our new programme, and you can read more of our thoughts in our three blogs on what they are, how to create conditions for them to flourish and how to evaluate existing and emerging INTs.
As well as the three shifts, there was also an announcement about the creation of regional innovation zones. In London, we already work with partners across the city including UCLP, ICHP, KHP, MedCity and NHSE London to provide a joined-up innovation ecosystem linking innovators with world class NHS organisations and educational institutions. London has a global reputation and we look forward to continuing to work with these partners to super charge the capital’s Innovation Zone.
There are plenty of interesting ideas in the plan and I am cautiously optimistic that there is the potential for real change. The devil of course will be in the detail for delivery and understanding how it aligns with the upcoming Life Sciences Strategy. In the meantime you can find more detail about our projects and work can be found in our annual report for 2024/25 here.
