TechUK Calls for Ring-Fenced Funding for Digital Health

The IT industry association techUK has urged the UK government and NHS England (NHSE) to allocate protected funding for digital transformation and cyber resilience in health and social care.

In its November 2024 report, Driving Digital Transformation: techUK’s Recommendations for Health and Social Care, techUK emphasizes the importance of sustained investment in digital innovation. The report calls for the government and NHSE to "ring-fence funding for digital transformation and cyber resilience in health and social care at previously committed levels as a minimum."

This recommendation comes after the Autumn Budget on 30 October 2024, where Chancellor Rachel Reeves committed over £2 billion to NHS technology and digital initiatives. TechUK’s report advocates for increased central funding to expand digital transformation efforts and align new investments with national digital platforms.

The report stresses the need for further investment to improve data quality and governance processes, which are critical for ongoing digital advancements in health and care. It also proposes reforms to NHS procurement and commercial practices, such as defining clearer roles, streamlining processes, transitioning to dynamic frameworks, and implementing the NHS SME Action Plan.

Highlighting the transformative potential of AI, techUK recommends that NHSE and the Department of Health and Social Care establish a central strategy for the safe and ethical adoption of AI in healthcare. Additionally, the report urges the government and NHSE to update and publish a vision, roadmap, and commercial strategy for the NHS App, including plans for third-party integration.

This follows earlier calls from healthcare leaders and critiques in Lord Darzi's independent review, advocating for the NHS App to reach its full potential.

TechUK also presses for the release of the NHS Digital Workforce Plan and collaboration with industry to close the digital skills gap in the health and care sector.

The report underscores the urgency of acting now to make structural changes that will modernize health and social care services. It highlights key priorities, including digital transformation investment, IT infrastructure management, procurement improvements, SME sector support, and tackling interoperability challenges. These, techUK argues, are critical to boosting the productivity and efficiency of the UK’s health and care system.

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