CEO Blogs

Executive summary   The signal: September 2025 Board papers confirm ICSs are under sharper scrutiny on financial variance to plan, productivity, and reliance on premium staffing. Why this matters: The old model of offering volume capacity at premium cost is no longer viable. ICSs will demand proof of value, outcomes per £, productivity gains, and…

Latest analysis of activity and staffing data in England shows output-per-input growth in the acute sector has markedly decelerated, signalling that the widely reported “green shoots” of recovery may be less robust than portrayed. According to Health Foundation and the Strategy Unit, although the acute sector recorded approximately 2.7 % productivity growth in 2024/25, the…

The signal: NHS data show breast screening coverage rose to 70% in 2024/25 (+3.6pp since 2022/23), but cervical screening stagnated at 68.8%, and MMR uptake sits at 84.5%, well below the WHO 95% target.   Why this matters: Prevention is the long-term lever of the 10-Year Health Plan. Flat or falling screening uptake will translate…

Executive summary The signal: In June 2025, 85% of urgent community response (UCR) calls were met within 2 hours, beating the 70% national target. Why this matters: UCR is one of the few consistently improving services. It prevents avoidable admissions, supports ambulance handovers, and strengthens winter resilience. What to do now: Identify the success factors,…

For decades, agency healthcare professionals have been the NHS’s shock absorber, stepping in when rotas failed, filling hard to fill shifts, and keeping services running through seasonal peaks and the pandemic. During COVID, NHS Employers called agencies “an extended arm of the NHS family.” Today, that family is being told there’s no place at the…