Just as the summer countdown hits single digits, the political and health policy temperature is rising. Chancellor Rachel Reeves and NHS England CEO Sir Jim Mackey just spiced up the midweek with a policy showcase that signals a bold new era for health system transformation.
The headline act? A seismic £30 billion boost for the NHS, unveiled as part of the Chancellor’s first major Spending Review. Of that, £10 billion is earmarked specifically for digital and tech transformation, laying the groundwork for a system designed to be faster, more agile, and truly fit for the future.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Reeves delivered a powerful message: “There’s no strong economy without a strong NHS. Getting the NHS back on its feet and fit for the future is non-negotiable.” The commitment isn’t just financial, it’s philosophical, embedding health and care as core pillars of the UK’s long-term economic strategy.
The government is providing a £29 billion real terms increase (£53 billion cash increase) in annual NHS day‑to‑day spending from 2023‑24 to 2028‑29. This will take spending to £226 billion by 2028‑29, equivalent to a 3.0% average annual real terms growth rate over the spending review period. This investment will support the NHS to deliver the government’s Plan for Change commitment, meaning that by the end of the Parliament, 92% of patients will start consultant‑led treatment for non‑urgent conditions within 18 weeks of referral.
In addition, the review includes a £2.3 billion real terms increase (£4 billion cash increase) in the Department of Health and Social Care’s annual capital budgets from 2023‑24 to 2029‑30 to invest in the NHS, including in new technology, hospitals and primary care infrastructure. This will deliver the largest ever health capital budget, representing a more than 20% real terms increase by the end of the period. Learn more here.
Meanwhile in Manchester, NHS Confed 2025 had a pulse of its own. Sir Jim Mackey, now a familiar and trusted voice in NHS reform, addressed a packed audience, underscoring the imperative for financial discipline and systemic redesign. There was strong focus on empowering local neighbourhood models and ensuring that frontline teams have the clarity and flexibility to thrive.
We gathered feedback from hundreds of health and social care leaders during the event, and the message was loud and clear. Despite the scale of change, Sir Jim’s popularity is surging. Leaders spoke not just about policies, but about his leadership style: direct, relatable, and grounded in the realities they face daily.
And the momentum doesn’t stop there. The NHSE CEO is set to headline his first major event of the summer on 26th June in Westminster, London, bringing together voices from NHS trusts, ICBs, social care, primary care and neighbourhood teams. This NHS Strategy Summit will create an intimate and high-trust space for deep, strategic discussions around digital transformation, innovation, and future planning.
With the buzz from NHS Confed still fresh, demand for the NHS Strategy Summit has been sky-high. The event is now fully booked, with additional capacity being opened up to allow for private planning round-tables and cross-sector strategy conversations.
For NHS Chiefs and Directors looking to engage in meaningful dialogue with colleagues across the country for a day of collective planning and sharing, we encourage you to connect directly with the event facilitators via Naomi@meethealthevents.com.
This Summit will be only a continuation from the spark started at NHS Confed – in a more intimate setting, with new national insights, conversations and joint solution building.
