Nick Lansman, CEO and founder of the Health Tech Alliance, has released the following comments on the Autumn budget:
"It was good to see a commitment to growing the life sciences sector in today’s Budget, especially redirecting funding to patient care closer to home and cutting NHS waiting lists. It is encouraging to see that the pension reforms are attracting initial investment of £200 million for the UK’s most innovative companies across science and technology firms.
To turn this momentum into better outcomes for all, NHS procurement and data infrastructure need to keep pace with that growth capital, helping promising tools move from pilots into routine use. The Office for Budget Responsibility’s shift toward seeing health spending as an investment in workforce participation and economic growth is crucial. That same approach must now be applied to digital, data and medical technologies, recognising innovation not as a cost but as a driver of a more productive, sustainable NHS.
The creation of a Neighbourhood Health Service and the new NHS Neighbourhood Rebuild programme could be powerful platforms for health tech if they prioritise interoperable data, modernised estates and clear, consistent routes for adoption of innovation. Public–private investment in more than 100 centres will only deliver value if these sites become testbeds for scaling effective technologies, not just new bricks and mortar.
If the Government, investors and the health system work together, today’s announcements can help UK health tech firms to scale at home, compete globally and, most importantly, get game-changing technologies to patients faster. The Health Tech Alliance stands ready to work with ministers, the NHS and industry partners to turn this kickstart of momentum into real-world impact for patients, clinicians and the health system as a whole.”
Autumn budget snapshot:
Technology and digital transformation
- £300m additional NHS technology funding to accelerate the shift from analogue to digital.
- Focus on improved productivity, NHS App navigation and full access to digital health records.
- Builds on up to £10bn committed at the Spending Review, increasing the NHS technology budget by 50%.
- £3.25bn Public Service Transformation Fund creates wider opportunities in interoperability, data platforms and shared digital infrastructure.
Capital and service investment
- 250 new Neighbourhood Health Centres, with 120 open by 2030, co-locating primary and community services.
- Delivery through the Neighbourhood Rebuild Programme with a new public–private partnership model.
Waiting lists and productivity
- Elective waiting list down 230,000 since July 2024, supported by 5.2m additional appointments.
- Meeting recovery targets expected to add £1.1bn to wage income by 2030–31.
- New 2% annual NHS productivity target, generating £17bn in savings for reinvestment.
Primary care and access
- Reinstates commitment of £1.1bn for general practice and recruitment of 2,500 additional GPs, with more training places to follow.
Prevention and population health
- Place-based pilots with Mayors to pool budgets for prevention and locally tailored interventions.
Date: 1 December