Daniel Reynolds

Artificial intelligence use in NHS communications Insights, risks and recommendations for safe and effective adoption of AI in NHS communications.

Excited that @nhsconfed.org & #NHS Comms AI Taskforce have published a report into #AI adoption in #NHScomms

We're seeing lots of positive adoption but uptake is uneven and more governance is required to support safe adoption. Our taskforce will provide this.

www.nhsconfed.org/publications...

I interpreted it as certain political parties who may not believe in a free at the point of use NHS…

Some highlights from SoS speech at #NHSConfedExpo

✅ Clearer priorities/fewer targets
✅ A slimmed down Centre
✅ICBs as strategic commissioners of local services
✅ Reinvigorate the FT model
✅ Change the financial rules - focus on outcomes/reform the tariff
✅ More integration between providers

Wes Streeting tells #NHSConfedExpo that the #spendingreview settlement puts “wind in the NHS’ sails” but acknowledges it’s below what the health think tanks say is needed. Says we need to take this settlement and combine it with the redesign of services to steer the nhs onto a sustainable path.

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting is now speaking at #NHSConfedExpo @nhsconfed.org

Starts off by saying the #NHS as a free at the point of use public service is “in a fight for its life” but he’s confident the NHS will win that fight.

@nhsconfed.org @confedmatt.bsky.social asked about the #spendingreview settlement

Says:

✅ Revenue settlement is good considering what other public services are getting but below long term average

❌ But the big concern is flat capital and no changes (so far) to rules on using private investment

@nhsconfed.org @confedmatt.bsky.social now speaking at #NHSConfedExpo

✅ The need to reimagine the NHS based on less hierarchy & built around patients
✅ Fundamental changes to our model of care
✅ Leveraging private investment to boost capital funding
✅ Not losing sight of the wider determinants

Sir Jim now in conversation with @nhsconfed.org Lord Victor Adebowale. #NHSConfedExpo

Talking about moving at pace with the change programme but doing it compassionately: doesn’t want a prolonged process

Hints they’re still pushing for a national redundancy scheme: something we’ve been calling for

Sir Jim Mackey giving his speech at #NHSConfedExpo

Highlights so far for me:

1. Much less interference from the Centre
2. Fewer data returns/form filling
3. Focus on outcomes not inputs
4. Trusting people to work things out for their local circumstances
5. Develop greater ambition for the NHS

This is key. If there’s no extra capital & no changes to the rules that prevent private investment being used to boost capital funding, the NHS won’t be the ‘big winner’ from the CSR that some are claiming. But it’s hard to be churlish about the 2.8% for revenue given the wider public finances.

"The NHS is still one of the most powerful investments that this country has ever made in its people, and we know that the alternatives are more expensive and less safe. But we must do better". Lord Victor Adebowale

"The NHS is still one of the most powerful investments that this country has ever made in its people, and we know that the alternatives are more expensive and less safe. But we must do better"

Victor Adebowale and Penny Dash kick off #NHSConfedExpo, setting the tone for 2 days of insightful talks.

Brilliant opening to #NHSConfedExpo from @nhsconfed.org chair Lord Victor Adebowale - clear message on the need to eradicate the inequalities in outcomes that continue to hold back progress. Urges government/NHSE to work hand in glove with local leaders to steer #NHS through this difficult period.

Streeting greenlights eight reconfigurations Wes Streeting has declined to intervene over eight NHS service reconfigurations since taking up his post last summer, HSJ can reveal.

Positive development here - the Secretary of State has chosen not to "call in" nearly all of the service changes put before him since he took up. This is something @nhsconfed.org has been urging. Good to see the Secretary of State holding the line. @hsj.co.uk story 👇
www.hsj.co.uk/service-rede...

NHS scraps plan to cap costs of bringing down waiting lists Patients in England can expect to be seen quicker as cost-cutting plans that capped the amount paid to private hospitals for treating NHS patients are abandoned

Good news that the elective cap is being scrapped, but intrigued to see what the cost-control plans are that now makes removing the cap affordable.

www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Hospitals in England could shed 100,000 jobs in response to cost-cutting orders Exclusive: Scale of looming job losses prompts NHS leaders to ask Treasury to cover costs

After talking to many local #NHS leaders, @nhsconfed.org is recommending the Treasury creates a national redundancy fund to meet the costs of the redundancies that leaders are being asked to make, as well as helping to ensure savings are realised more quickly 👇

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Spring Statement 2025: what you need to know Unpacking the headline points healthcare leaders need to be aware of in the 2025 Spring Statement.

While there were no #NHS specific policies, the ObR’s forecasts show a worsening outlook for the economy and the public finances. The upshot is more front loading this year but much less next year and probably during the CSR period. Our @nhsconfed.org briefing 👇

www.nhsconfed.org/publications...

‘Reform standstill’ threatened over ICB cuts Service reform and "strategic commissioning" may be "brought to a standstill" by steep cuts to integrated care boards, leaders have warned.

@hsj.co.uk coverage of @nhsconfed.org report out today on strategic commissioning and what the 50% cuts to ICB running costs may mean.

www.hsj.co.uk/integrated-c...

Pioneers of reform Six proposed shifts to achieve strategic commissioning that will drive public service reform and ensure a sustainable health and care system.

With so much uncertainty about the future role of ICBs given recent government cuts to their running costs, this new @nhsconfed.org report looks at the importance of strategic commissioning and the vital role of ICBs in driving the government's three #NHS shifts 👇

www.nhsconfed.org/publications...

Streeting is Lansley reborn The government's abandonment of its stricture against a top-down reorganisation would be breathtaking if it was not so tragic.

This is very good from @hsjeditor.bsky.social on the government's #NHS reorganisation U-turn, going back to the aims of the Lansley reforms and on to what Streeting is attempting now. So many parallels between the two, with some key lessons having not been learned.

www.hsj.co.uk/comment/stre...

The Integrator: ICBs in limbo and under pressure Insider tales and must-read analysis on how integration is reshaping health and care systems, NHS providers, primary care, and commissioning. This week by correspondent Mimi Launder

Good piece on the limbo that ICBs are in by @mimilaunder.bsky.social

Cites the lack of a plan in place which has left many unanswered Qs, and how asking ICBs to cut by 50% by Q3 2025/26 is not credible. Featuring quotes from @nhsconfed.org @sarahjwalter.bsky.social

www.hsj.co.uk/expert-brief...

COVID-19: Five years on, how has healthcare comms changed? To mark the fifth anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, PRWeek UK has spoken to some of the UK’s top healthcare comms specialists to get their views on the lasting impacts of the pandemic on the secto...

I contributed to @prweekuk.bsky.social article on how #Covid - 5 years on - has changed #NHS comms. In short, a lot!

1 positive: the behavioural change insights we've generated through the vax programme.

1 negative: combatting more mis and disinformation.

www.prweek.co.uk/article/1910...

NHS Confederation and NHS Providers joint statement on announcement NHS England will be abolished This is the end of an era for the NHS and marks the biggest reshaping of its national architecture in a decade.

Huge moment for #NHS leadership, with NHS England to be absolished. Can understand government's desire to bring the NHS back under direct political control, but this is a huge change and a large scale NHS reorganisation. Very destabilising.

@nhsconfed.org view 👇

www.nhsconfed.org/news/nhs-con...

Agreed but if there is genuine duplication across NHSE and DH - and there does appear to be - then it makes sense to look at it. However, this doesn’t appear to be the best way of doing this.

Agreed. Much of this feels symbolic - i.e. if the centre is asking local NHS leaders to deliver exacting CIPs, then we at the centre need to show that we are playing our part (not a bad thing per se). Obviously this is part of a wider resetting of the civil service based on what McFadden is doing.

NHS Confederation responds to NHS England leadership changes These changes represent the biggest reshaping of the NHS’s national architecture in more than a decade.

More changes in NHSE's leadership team as government recasts how DHSC & NHSE work together. The scale of the cuts is a surprise, but given the savings needed in 2025/26, there needs to be a reduction in areas of duplication at a national level. @nhsconfed.org view 👇
www.nhsconfed.org/news/nhs-con...

As the #NHS gears up for a very difficult planning round for 2025/26 - @confedmatt.bsky.social was on the Today programme earlier urging the government to support @nhsconfed.org members and not push all the financial risk we are seeing on to local NHS leaders and expect them to manage the fallout 👇

NHS leaders ordered to propose £7bn cuts to services Sir Jim Mackey, the interim chief executive of the NHS, has demanded that trust leaders make decisions on how they will cut the spending deficit

Coverage of NHSE's letter to local #NHS leaders, citing a £6.6bn gap following first round budget submissions ahead of 2025/26.

Quotes @nhsconfed.org @confedmatt.bsky.social - "Govt can't push this risk on to local NHS leaders and expect them to manage the fallout"
www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcar...

There's a difficult balance to be struck between wanting to be ambitious on efficiency targets (many #NHS orgs will be looking at cost improvement plans of well over 5%), while at the same time not strong-arming NHS orgs into signing up to fantasy financial plans. We've been here before...

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NHS England » Update on 2025/26 planning round NHS England » Update on 2025/26 planning round

Despite what some say about the #NHS budget settlement of Oct 2024, the NHS and @nhsconfed.org members are gearing up for an extremely difficult 2025/26. New letter from NHS England says they are not happy with the first cut budget submissions from NHS orgs.

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www.england.nhs.uk/publication/...

I chaired the NHS and hardly believed it: sewage flows into sinks The outgoing chairman of NHS England is full of praise for its staff but says the service is ‘sclerotic’ and relies too heavily on politicians

Good Times interview (£) with Richard Meddings. He rightly calls out the Govt mindset that “thinks financial control is handing out money in small parcels”. @nhsconfed.bsky.social will recognise this - costs spiral & you’re left to prop up inefficient infrastructure
www.thetimes.com/article/ee68...