Health technology leaders have shared their insights in response to a letter published by NHS England’s Chief Executive Jim Mackey titled, Building on Our Progress in the Second Half of 2025-26.
The letter outlines strategies to improve waiting times, enhance community care, and use digital solutions for sustainable healthcare transformation.
Below, industry experts highlight the critical role of technology in addressing NHS challenges, from streamlining workflows to optimising patient care and operational efficiency.
Dr Eleanor Wicks, Chief Scientific Officer, Lifeyear
The NHS faces the dual challenge of improving waiting times while supporting patients safely in the community.
Digital approaches have an important role to play here clearly, from remote monitoring that can identify deterioration early, to tools that help patients manage their conditions outside hospital.
By reducing unnecessary low-need appointments, these approaches free up clinical capacity for those with the greatest need, improving resilience and helping frontline teams focus on urgent care and long waits.
At Lifeyear, we’ve been working on ways to align remote monitoring with operational priorities, so that patients receive timely support while systems benefit from greater efficiency.
The key is ensuring that digital pathways are embedded as part of local service transformation, rather than as an add-on.
If we can do that, technology can make a meaningful difference in tackling both the backlog and the ongoing pressure on NHS services.
Dr Harry Thirkettle, Director of Health and Innovation, Aire Logic Limited
Technology and digital solutions are essential for driving long-term transformation and unlocking productivity in the healthcare sector.
Enabling meaningful digital change will only happen through scalable, cloud-first platforms that optimise data flow, reduce technical debt and establish single sources of truth, ultimately improving patient outcomes and clinician efficiency.
The NHS’s emphasis on using data to understand performance issues and on maintaining investment in these areas is crucial for long-term sustainability.
Patient-facing initiatives are also vital, such as keeping online consultation tools open.
These approaches eliminate bottlenecks, enhance efficiency and boost overall system performance in the NHS.
Julian Coe, MD, X-on Health
We know that technology and digital solutions are essential for the long-term transformation of healthcare and unlocking productivity across the NHS.
Our first-hand experience shows that when implemented thoughtfully, digital tools such as Surgery Assist can streamline workflows, improve patient access, and reduce administrative burdens.
We also recognise the concerns raised by the BMA regarding the requirement for GP practices to keep online consultation tools open throughout core hours.
While accessibility is crucial, it must be balanced with safeguards that protect clinical capacity and ensure sustainable workloads for practices.
As the UKs leading provider of digital front door tools to primary care, we advocate for a collaborative approach that empowers GPs with flexible, intelligent systems designed to enhance care delivery as well as supporting frontline teams.”
Guy Lucchi, Healthcare Managing Director, System C
We share the view that innovation, particularly through digital solutions and AI, is a powerful tool to bridge the gap where demand continues to outstrip supply.
This can significantly boost productivity by eliminating ‘busy work’ for clinicians and social workers.
The key to unlocking the full potential of this is through optimising existing investments and integrating technology directly into core systems, using the power of digital to join up care.
Ultimately transformation requires a collaborative effort from all stakeholders to ensure a sustainable future for health and social care.
