CEO Blogs

Diagnostics sit at the frontline of early detection, effective treatment, and system efficiency. Over the past year, the NHS has delivered a 25% increase in diagnostic activity compared to pre-pandemic levels, a major achievement under immense operational strain. But the question now is not what has been achieved, but what can be sustained. This blog…

  With the NHS Performance Assessment Framework consultation now closed, NHS England is preparing to unveil a streamlined performance framework. Designed to cut through complexity and focus on what matters most, the new framework marks a significant recalibration of how Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) and providers will be assessed. This blog explores the imminent changes,…

The NHS is poised for one of the most significant strategic shifts in its history with the forthcoming NHS 10 Year Health Plan. Developed in parallel with NHS England’s restructuring and the Department of Health and Social Care’s (DHSC) policy alignment, this Plan is expected to be published imminently. It promises a blueprint for a…

Behind the headlines of NHS efficiency targets and financial recovery lies a deeper human impact: a significant reshaping of the workforce. As part of the 2025/26 financial plan, NHS England has mandated: A 2% reduction in total workforce headcount (substantive, bank, and agency). A 40% reduction in agency spend by March 2026. For the clinicians,…

As the NHS intensifies its drive for efficiency amid historic financial pressures, one principle is gaining significant prominence: cost savings must not compromise care quality. Central to safeguarding this balance is the Quality Impact Assessment (QIA), now mandated for all material financial decisions and service changes across the NHS.   This blog offers a tactical…

The NHS enters 2025/26 under the most demanding financial expectations in over a decade. To achieve a balanced plan, local systems must deliver a record 7.1% efficiency gain and reduce workforce headcount by 2%. Yet this is not simply a numbers game. Amid ongoing recovery demands, rising care complexity, and long-standing workforce pressures, the risk…