On Thursday 3 July 2025, the UK Government published its 10-Year Health Plan for England.
Professor Andrew Morris CBE FRSE PMedSci, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, responded to the publication:
“The 10-Year Health Plan sets out a bold and necessary vision for transforming the NHS. The scale of the ambition is essential – the NHS faces fundamental challenges that require reform, and the use of advanced technology and data at scale. We are encouraged to see research, innovation and prevention feature so prominently throughout the plan, reflecting priorities the Academy has long championed. The commitment to make research ‘business-as-usual’ rather than a ‘nice to have’ represents an important shift in approach, as does the emphasis on putting patients at the centre of both their care and the research that improves it.
“The plan’s focus on prevention – and the recognition that it begins with children and young people – aligns strongly with our evidence that the early years provide a crucial window to improve lifelong health outcomes and deliver significant economic returns. The positive commitment to reverse the decline in clinical academic roles recognises that research must be embedded across all parts of the healthcare workforce to drive the continuous improvement needed for this transformation.
“However, the scale of transformation requires more than aspiration – it demands clear accountability mechanisms, robust implementation plans and crucially cross-government coordination. While we see encouraging commitments to embed research throughout the NHS, we would like to see more detail on how the health service will be further supported in this vital mandate, particularly how Integrated Care Boards will be equipped and resourced to fulfil their research responsibilities during this period of significant change.
“The emphasis on patient voice and involvement in research is essential. The NHS of the future must be shaped and developed with the patients it exists to support through sustained and meaningful partnership, not one-off interactions. The experiences of patients and those who care for them - particularly the most vulnerable and excluded members of society - are fundamental to delivering care and innovation that is not only clinically effective but truly inclusive for all.
“This plan sets the right direction for creating an NHS fit for the future. Success will depend on turning these bold ambitions into practical action that truly puts research and patient partnership at the heart of healthcare delivery.”