Overview
- NHS England has moved to a three-year Medium Term Planning Framework to give local leaders greater certainty over funding and delivery.
- Hospitals will receive financial incentives to treat more patients in community settings such as diagnostic centres and neighborhood teams to free hospital capacity.
- New standards include 80% of community health activity completed within 18 weeks and a consultation on same‑day GP access for clinically urgent cases.
- Urgent and emergency care will shift to a digital‑first model, with 95% of post‑triage appointments available via the NHS App and local plans due from 2026/27.
- Productivity steps will cut unnecessary follow‑ups and scans via i‑Refer, while independent providers report 6.15 million NHS activities and early waiting‑list reductions are reported alongside warnings about digital exclusion.