It’s a peculiar kind of thrill, isn’t it? Standing on the cusp of something significant, especially when it concerns something as vital as our National Health Service. The Health and Social Care Secretary, speaking at NHS ConfedExpo 2025, certainly seemed to feel it, fresh off the heels of a Spending Review and with a 10 Year Plan for health on the horizon. Normally, these occasions are about delivering soundbites for the public, but this time, the luxury was to speak directly to the system itself – to us.
And what a conversation it was. A 'health geek-out,' as the Secretary put it, diving deep into what the recent Spending Review actually means and offering a sneak peek at the reforms to come. It’s easy for the media and the public to focus on the headline figures – the £29 billion extra a year by 2028-29. And yes, that’s a substantial sum, a real boost to our sails. But as has been consistently argued, simply throwing money at a problem isn't the magic bullet. The real work lies in the combination of investment and reform.
It’s heartening to hear about the tangible progress already being made. For the first time in 17 years, waiting lists actually decreased in April. That’s not just a statistic; it represents real people getting the care they need. We’re seeing more appointments, more suspected cancer patients diagnosed quickly, and a significant cut in those daunting waiting lists. The Urgent and Emergency Care Plan is gaining traction, and winter planning is already underway. Even the work with GPs, securing a contract through partnership rather than imposition, feels like a genuine step forward, leading to more frontline staff.
One trust Chief Exec’s analogy – seeing light at the end of the tunnel and being convinced it’s not an oncoming train – perfectly captures that fragile, yet growing, sense of optimism. The Spending Review’s allocation is set to bring the NHS into the digital age with a significant technology budget increase, fund thousands more GPs to bolster neighbourhood services, ensure mental health support in every school, and provide the highest ever capital investment for rebuilding our infrastructure. It’s about more than just the 3% funding increase; it’s about transforming the entire 100% of how care is delivered.
The journey ahead is undoubtedly long, but the current trajectory suggests we are finally on the road to recovery. It’s a collective effort, built on the foundations of investment and a commitment to meaningful reform, ensuring the NHS is not just surviving, but thriving for the future.
