Global Scans · Horizon Scanning NHS · Weekly Summary

• [New] AI is already being used in UK hospitals for important tasks such as diagnosing cancer more quickly and it will continue to be used to support the NHS. BBC News
• The importance of Digital Skills: Digital skills are becoming increasingly vital for NHS staff, with nearly all employees expecting to upskill in the next five years Workforce Training: training and education are critical for ensuring the success of the NHS's transition to digital systems. NHS England | Workforce, training and education | Digit
• The NHS plans to use AI to increase breast cancer screening, and last year said it would trial to trial a superhuman model that predicts a person's risk of disease and early death. Metro
• NHS England is among various health bodies to warn of alcohol's long-term dangers, including high blood pressure, liver disease, strokes and various cancers. Bristol Live
• NHS trusts can significantly reduce the risk of DNAs occurring in the first place by reminding patients of upcoming appointments and offering convenient options for rescheduling or cancelling. Hospital Times
• The NHS runs one of the biggest collaboration platforms in the world for 1.8M people and is developing an NHS Marketplace that will enable the sharing of secure, interoperable and accessible digital solutions across the NHS. GOV.UK
• In 2024 to 2025, NHS England will continue to roll out the extension of screening intervals for eligible people to every 2 years instead of annually, following an evidence-based recommendation by UK NSC. GOV.UK
• There is an increased focus on sustainability within healthcare, with the NHS looking to adopt more environmentally friendly methods, underpinned by a target to reach net-zero emissions by as soon as 2040. Solutions Asset Finance
• AI has already demonstrated its value in the NHS, diagnosing illnesses faster and optimising hospital workflows, and similar innovations are envisioned for schools and local councils to streamline administrative tasks and allow teachers to focus on teaching. University of Birmingham
• NHS England alone saw 123 critical service outages last year, leading to missed appointments and disruptions relating to staff being forced to use paper-based systems. World Online
• The new Decarbonization of Estates framework agreement supports the NHS in its goal to become the world's first net-zero national health service, aiming to achieve net zero by 2040 for the emissions it directly controls. World Construction Network
• The new Decarbonization of Estates framework agreement helps the NHS achieve its ambition of becoming the world's first net zero national health service, reaching net zero by 2040 for the emissions the NHS controls directly. FM Industry
• Sustainability has become a core focus for healthcare providers, driven by the NHS's ambitious target to reach net-zero emissions by 2040. Daniels Healthcare
• The current state of NHS will push some people to assisted suicide, and 57% say lower cost of suicide compared to palliative care would push people to suicide. Juicy Ecumenism
• The UK now has a window of opportunity with the Autumn Budget committing £13.6bn in NHS capital investment for 2025-26 that could support technological transformation. Digital Health
• Pay settlements and the cost of pensions uplifts for NHS workers mean day-to-day spending will be £12.9bn higher than in 2023/24 in England, of which £4.8bn is not currently covered by NHS or DHSC budgets. inews.co.uk
• The reforms for England will see an overhaul of the NHS app to give patients greater choice over where they choose to have their appointment and will also provide greater detail to the patient including their results and waiting times. SKY
• Last November, NHS England made a landmark commitment to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040, in pursuit of the World Health Organization's global strategy for elimination, and the impressive progress seen in countries like Australia, which is on track to eliminate cervical cancer by 2035. New Statesman
• In 2025, the landscape of healthcare costs in the UK will be shaped significantly by NHS funding and the availability of services. Law and Visas
• The UK's National Health Service, to achieve the target of net zero by 2040, is reviewing provider payment mechanisms to understand the opportunities to drive environmental change through incentives. OUP Academic
• From Analogue to Digital: With the introduction of a unified patient record system through the NHS App, patients will have greater control over their health information, streamlining processes and enhancing the quality of care. CPR Guardian Watch
• In the British NHS, clinical governance is defined as a framework through which health service organizations are accountable for continually improving the quality of their services and safeguarding high standards of care by creating an environment in which excellence in clinical care will flourish. UK Essays

Last updated: 26 February 2025