#24. W/c 24th February '25
Alastair Allen
Partner, Head of Healthcare Technology at EY | Board Member at openEHR UK | Health and Social Care Council Member at TechUK
This week in my newsletter:
The HSE launch a new Health App for patients in Ireland
Amanda Pritchard quits as NHS England chief executive
Booking online ‘will end 8am race for GP’ appointment
The Economist’s Healthcare Outlook 2025 report
EHR switches 'not an IT project' but systemwide transformation
Virtual hospitals, the future of healthcare?
HSE launches Health App for patients in Ireland
The HSE in Ireland has introduced the first version of the HSE Health App, which aims to assist patients by providing digital access to their health information. Launched on 25 February 2025, the app is designed for individuals aged 16 and above, with an initial focus on expectant mothers. It enables users to maintain a digital list of self-reported medications, view medications obtained through the Drugs Payment Scheme or Medical Card Scheme, and access flu and Covid-19 vaccination records, alongside maternity service appointments.
Supported by Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, the app facilitates easier navigation of the health services and prioritises patient-centred design based on consultations with patient organisations. Future plans include integrating the app with the Government Digital Wallet and enhancing functionalities to include public hospital appointment notifications, smoking cessation support, and additional self-care resources.
Bernard Gloster, chief executive of the HSE, highlights the initiative as a significant progression in the digital transformation of Ireland's health services. By embracing digital tools, such as this app, HSE aims to empower patients and improve their access to care.
Available for free on Google Play and the App Store, this launch is part of the Digital for Care initiative, which aims to digitally transform health services nationwide by 2030, with additional features such as national shared care records and more comprehensive patient data access to come.
Amanda Pritchard quits as NHS England chief executive in shock move
Amanda Pritchard has unexpectedly resigned as NHS England’s chief executive. This development has come after meetings with Health Secretary Wes Streeting about plans to overhaul the NHS.
Despite her stepping down being portrayed as voluntary, her resignation follows criticisms from the public accounts and health and social care committees regarding the suitability of her leadership amid anticipated significant NHS reforms. Criticisms included complacency and lacking dynamism.
Pritchard asserted that her decision was difficult, but it allows a successor to support the upcoming government’s 10-year NHS plan. Streeting denied any involvement in her resignation, praising Pritchard's service during the Covid pandemic yet seemingly signalling a desire for a more dynamic leader.
James Mackey, currently the chief executive of the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust, is to act as her interim successor from April and is praised as a reform-minded leader. Discussion continues over whether Mackey might take the role permanently. Pritchard highlighted NHS achievements under her tenure, such as establishing community diagnostic centres and innovations like cancer vaccines. Streeting acknowledged Pritchard’s integrity and suggested the NHS requires transformative leadership as the department prepares for major reforms aimed at shortening treatment waiting times and enhancing community and prevention-focused services. Streeting is also facing pressure to deliver on Labour’s promise to revamp the NHS, reflecting public demand for significant health service improvements.
Booking online ‘will end 8am race for GP’ appointment
From October, GP surgeries in England will be required to offer online booking for appointments throughout the day, aiming to eliminate the early morning rush for slots. This move is part of a £900 million reform package introduced by Health Secretary Wes Streeting, intended to ease patient difficulties in securing GP appointments, which is a significant issue facing the NHS. The changes form part of a new deal between the government and the British Medical Association, granting surgeries an additional £889 million. Surgeries will receive incentives to ensure patients can consistently see the same doctor, enhancing continuity of care.
The contract will also reduce the number of performance targets for GPs from 77 to 44, addressing widespread concerns over excessive administrative burdens. Streeting identifies these reforms as a crucial step in restoring the NHS by simplifying GPs’ workloads and boosting their funding, while empowering patients to easily access appointments with their preferred doctor. Over recent years, funding for GPs has lagged behind other NHS services, contributing to appointment access issues.
NHS England’s Dr Amanda Doyle highlights improving access to general practices as a central focus, with this contract set to strengthen the role of family doctors in local healthcare services starting in April. Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer of the BMA GP committee expressed hope that these changes will prevent practice closures and reduce patient wait times. The 7.2% increase in GP contract funding surpasses the overall 5.8% NHS budget growth, aligning with the government's strategy to enhance community healthcare services.
Healthcare Outlook 2025
The Economist Group’s 2025 healthcare outlook indicates a rise in global healthcare spending, surpassing inflation rates and driven by public spending in low- to middle-income countries and an ageing global population. Despite this, governments are expected to fall short on the United Nations' Universal Healthcare Coverage targets, with spending diverted to other priorities like defence and infrastructure. Pharmaceutical sales will increase, fuelled by demand for anti-obesity medications and the resilient dollar, although regulatory debates in the US and EU will remain heated, potentially stoking competition.
Public funding pressures and external uncertainties like climate change and conflicts will affect progress towards achieving healthcare goals, leaving universal coverage targets unmet. Medical tourism will enhance investment, aiming for new standards in care quality. This upswing could drive a competitive recruitment environment, with countries such as Malaysia, Turkey, and Thailand capitalising on this trend.
While regulatory efforts aim to contain medicine prices and improve market competition, pharmaceutical firms will be challenged to balance investment in R&D and supply chain diversifications to address drug shortages. The growing influence of China and Brazil in drug pricing dynamics further complicates the regulatory landscape. Meanwhile, healthcare workers will face tension, as the UK anticipates potential industrial actions following pay disputes.
Overall, while the forecast highlights significant advancements and expansions in healthcare investment, it points out the hurdles in achieving universal healthcare objectives and managing the competitive regulatory environment. Criticising competitors for these challenges won't necessarily yield constructive progress or improvements in health outcomes globally.
Read more: https://pages.eiu.com/rs/753-RIQ-438/images/Healthcare-report-V3.pdf?version=0
EHR switches 'not an IT project' but systemwide transformation
Outside of the UK and Ireland, UPMC is in the process of transitioning from ten different Electronic Health Records (EHRs) systems to a single Epic system across the organisation, a move being led by Chief Technology Officer Chris Carmody. This transition, which began in September 2023, is set to cover approximately 40% of the organisation by September. Mr. Carmody emphasises that this change is not an IT-only project but a comprehensive organisational transformation involving many ancillary systems connected to the current EHRs.
He highlights that while integrating into a single EHR system requires significant investment, it is expected to enhance operations, and both the clinician and patient experience. The success of the transformation has been attributed to detailed and inclusive planning and collaboration with key stakeholders from clinical and operational departments.
The project has required meticulous efforts to ensure data migration and interface creation, indicating a significant workload for the IT teams involved. Mr. Carmody notes the importance of planning for unforeseen issues, as projects of such scope rarely follow initial plans without complication. He also stresses the importance of staff support to prevent burnout as the team works through challenges, with plans to roll out the second wave of implementation in the second quarter of 2026 to cover the remaining systems.
Other organisations are keenly observing and sharing insights with UPMC to learn what strategies work well for such a large-scale implementation. This systemwide transformation reflects a broader trend among major health systems moving towards unified EHR platforms to streamline processes and improve patient care.
Virtual hospitals, the future of healthcare?
Galway University Hospital (GUH) has launched a virtual hospital trial, a pioneering integration of engineering and medicine to revolutionise healthcare. Led by Dr. Derek O’Keeffe, a dual professor of medicine and engineering, the project aims to address chronic healthcare issues such as emergency department overcrowding by implementing virtual care models. GUH trialled a system for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, using technology to provide remote monitoring and swift home interventions, reducing emergency admissions and saving resources.
The project also tests virtual wards, where patients continue recovery at home with telehealth oversight, thus freeing up hospital beds and resources. Since its introduction, this has led to a marked improvement in the length of patient stays and overall efficiency. Additionally, virtual consultations and digitally enhanced therapies are being trialled, using AI to guide patients through home treatments, thus diminishing the need for physical visits to hospitals.
This initiative aligns with Ireland’s Sláintecare, advocating for healthcare closer to home. Since April 2024, GUH's virtual service has demonstrated substantial efficiency savings and improvements in patient care. Backed by funding from Science Foundation Ireland and CiISCO, the initiative reflects a shift towards digital health, harnessing collaboration across disciplines. However, concerns regarding patient data security and privacy remain, addressed through HSE-approved software and compliance with GDPR.
Read more: https://trinitynews.ie/2025/02/galway-virtual-hospital-trial/
CEO at ReStart - Interoperable Digital Care
6moAnother great summary for a busy week!
Enjoyed that summary Alastair.
Managing Director – MEA | Strategy & Digital Transformation Advisory | AI & Agentic AI | Ex-PwC & KPMG | Transforming Public & Private Sector Enterprises
6moReally enjoying these newsletters,Alastair always bring a fresh perspective! This one especially caught my attention because it highlights how digital transformation isn’t just about new tech but about reshaping how care is delivered. From my experience working with virtual hospitals, I’ve seen how powerful seamless digital integration can be in making care more accessible and efficient. But the real challenge is making sure these solutions actually fit into clinical workflows and improve patient experiences. Lots of exciting changes ahead—looking forward to more of your insights!