Future Health System Priorities Revealed NHSS10: Keeping Patients Healthy in Neighbourhoods and at Home

Reflecting on the pace of change across health and care, we have been thinking more about what it will take to build something that lasts. With health systems under pressure and priorities shifting toward prevention and care closer to home, the need for clarity feels more important than ever.

These questions were front and centre at the tenth NHS Strategy Summit (NSS10), an exclusive event that brought together hundreds of senior NHSE leaders, NHS CEOs, and Executive Directors in Westminster to focus on the future of care. The summit offered a rare opportunity for those within the health system to pause and reflect. It created space to consider where we are collectively, what is already known, and what still goes unacknowledged in everyday decision-making. Across conversations with NHS colleagues, clinical leaders, and strategic partners, there was a shared sense of urgency, but also a recognition of what is possible. For us, being part of these discussions is vital to ensure the voices and needs of our patients remain visible in the choices that shape the future of care.

One clear theme was the need to strengthen outpatient pathways, sustain elective recovery, and deliver care more effectively in the community. Digital tools have an important role to play in supporting outpatient care, sustaining elective recovery, and strengthening services in the community. By making information more visible and easier to act on, they help clinical teams plan ahead, coordinate care, and intervene earlier. Much of the discussion at the summit focused on people with complex and long-term conditions, and the shared responsibility to improve how and where care is delivered. 

Relatedly, the topic of expanding outpatient care also raised wider questions about how and where care happens. Many patients find greater stability through outpatient care that is local, consistent, and easier to access. When digital tools are used with purpose, they can help link services and reduce the need for hospital-based interventions. As Sir Jim Mackey said, “Our agenda is clear: give patients what they want. Real care closer to home, focused on outcomes not inputs, trusting local teams to reshape services around people.”

The importance of using data to inform timely decisions was also highlighted by Ming Tang, Chief Digital and Information Officer at NHS England. “When we connect data with real-world decisions, we start to understand the human side of care,” she said. “Innovation gives us the tools, but it's the joined-up information that helps us act at the right time.”

This perspective reflects the value of visibility in day-to-day care. When outcome data is made available and accessible, it helps surface early signs of need and allows teams to respond with greater confidence. Making this information accessible and timely is not only about efficiency; it is also about ensuring care is more responsive to the people it is meant to serve.

Fiona Wheeler, Chief Operating Officer at BHRUT, spoke about the scale of the elective backlog. She pointed to the number of patients still waiting for outpatient appointments, many of whom are not currently prioritised. “We need to stop confusing operational rigour with true transformation,” she said. “The real opportunity lies in understanding who is waiting, what they are waiting for, and intervening before delays become harm.”

A consistent theme throughout the summit was that the data and knowledge to improve care already exist. The challenge lies in making this information accessible, timely, and integrated into systems that are already working under pressure. Whether the focus was elective care, virtual wards, or integrated models, many of the conversations came back to the need for greater clarity and simplicity.

What stood out most from NSS10 was the focus on building stability. The conversations did not centre on new systems or large-scale change, but on practical tools and approaches that support people in delivering care. This closely reflects how we approach our own work. We aim to support what is already happening, to bring greater visibility to what is already known, and to help turn information into action.

As we reflect on the discussions from the day, one idea came through clearly. Improving care does not begin with complexity. It begins with the small, daily decisions to measure what matters, listen to patients, and act when action is still possible.

To learn more about how Sanius is supporting earlier intervention, better data, and patient-led solutions across the NHS, visit www.saniushealth.com or get in touch with our team at hello@saniushealth.com