{"id":855463,"date":"2025-06-14T06:12:44","date_gmt":"2025-06-14T11:12:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/14\/nhs-it-the-big-winner-in-reeves-spending-review\/"},"modified":"2025-06-14T06:12:44","modified_gmt":"2025-06-14T11:12:44","slug":"nhs-it-the-big-winner-in-reeves-spending-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/14\/nhs-it-the-big-winner-in-reeves-spending-review\/","title":{"rendered":"NHS IT the big winner in Reeves\u2019 Spending Review"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"content-header\">\n<h2>The chancellor of the exchequer has significantly upped spending on digital and technology initiatives in the current Spending Review period, with the NHS receiving a 50% tech funding increase<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"content-center\">\n<ul>\n<li><i data-icon=\"1\"><\/i><\/li>\n<li><i data-icon=\"2\"><\/i><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"contributors-block\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Alex-Scroxton-CW-Contributor-2022.jpg\" alt=\"Alex Scroxton\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.techtarget.com\/contributor\/Alex-Scroxton\">Alex Scroxton,<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Security Editor<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\n\tPublished: <span>11 Jun 2025 17:54<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<section id=\"content-body\">\n<p>The NHS has emerged as a big winner from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/spending-review-2025-document\/spending-review-2025-html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the government\u2019s Spending Review through to 2027<\/a> with approximately \u00a310bn allocated to technology and digital transformation amid a wider \u00a329bn funding boost across the health service.<\/p>\n<p>In a speech delivered to Parliament today, chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves said that the funding represented a 50% increase in the NHS\u2019 technology budget.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are investing \u00a310bn to bring our analogue health system into the digital age, including through the NHS app so patients can manage their prescriptions, get their test results and book appointments all in one place,\u201d she told the House.<\/p>\n<p>Amid various announcements covering Britain\u2019s energy infrastructure, public transport upgrades, school refurbishment and much more, Reeves allocated significant tranches of cash to technological initiatives in the service of building stronger digital foundations, tackling cyber and technical resilience risks, modernising public service delivery, and overhauling wider government productivity and efficiency.<\/p>\n<p>The government had already set out plans <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/cn7zngr6jn5o\">to spend approximately \u00a386bn<\/a> on the science and technology sector during the current Parliament, and to this end, an additional \u00a31.2bn is to be provided across the Spending Review period to \u201cdrive forward cross-cutting digital priorities\u201d. This is underpinned by a \u00a33.25bn Transformation Fund.<\/p>\n<p>Among other things, Reeves confirmed that research and development (R&#038;D) funding will rise to \u00a322bn per year by the end of the spending review.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are backing our innovators, backing our researchers and backing our entrepreneurs,\u201d said the chancellor. \u201cAnd because home-grown AI has the potential to solve diverse and daunting challenges, as well as the opportunity for good jobs and investment here in Britain, I am announcing \u00a32bn to back this government\u2019s AI Action Plan, overseen by my right honourable friend the secretary of state for science and technology [Peter Kyle].\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This increase includes \u00a3500m for the R&#038;D Missions Accelerator Programme, \u00a31bn to scale the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/366625856\/UK-government-recommits-to-Edinburgh-supercomputer-plan-with-750m-funding-pledge\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u00a3750m for a research supercomputer at Edinburgh University<\/a>, and an unspecified amount to support UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), association to Horizon Europe and its successor, and work to attract more of the world\u2019s top scientists and technologists to the UK.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, out of an \u00a311bn increase in defence spending during the spending review period to fund the goals of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/366625195\/Cyber-and-digital-get-over-1bn-to-enhance-UKs-national-security\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the recent Strategic Defence Review<\/a>, Reeves announced a \u00a3600m uplift for the UK\u2019s security and intelligence agencies, a settlement that covers the work of both the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA).<\/p>\n<p>Not to leave out the network infrastructure that underpins a modern tech-focused society, the Spending Review also funds Building Digital UK (BDUK) with \u00a31.9bn to fund gigabit broadband services to 99% of UK premises by 2032 \u2013 with a particular focus in the current period on Scotland and Wales \u2013 and more work on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/366624864\/UK-government-upgrades-over-50-existing-mobile-masts-across-nations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Shared Rural Network<\/a> to extend 4G mobile coverage.<\/p>\n<section data-menu-title=\"AI and NHS spend welcomed\">\n<h2><i data-icon=\"1\"><\/i>AI and NHS spend welcomed<\/h2>\n<p>Reacting to the Spending Review, the UK\u2019s technology sector welcomed initiatives supporting AI and the NHS. James Clark, data protection, AI and digital regulation partner at law firm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spencer-west.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Spencer West LLP<\/a>, said Reeves had finally put \u201csome firepower\u201d behind <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/opinion\/The-AI-Opportunities-Action-Plan-is-recommended-reading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the AI Action Plan announced in January 2025<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile initiatives like the landmark Global AI Summit started by the UK in 2023 show commitment to global cooperation on AI, this announcement \u2013 which is very much about a sovereign, UK-first approach to AI \u2013 shows that this country is in something of a global arms race with other nations to \u2018own\u2019 key tracts of the AI economy,\u201d said Clark. \u201cThis doesn\u2019t just mean the acknowledged world leaders, the US and China, but also \u2018second-tier\u2019 nations that are also investing big in AI, like France.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>However, he continued, there were still challenges to be overcome, such as enabling innovators to access the capital needed to scale their work, developing secure and environmentally sustainable datacentres to accommodate AI\u2019s seemingly insatiable appetite for compute power, and a lack of funding to support development in private sector AI investment.<\/p>\n<p>Flann Horgan, head of healthcare sector at <a href=\"https:\/\/uk.nttdata.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NTT Data UK &#038; Ireland<\/a>, said the government clearly recognised a digital NHS cannot be constructed on analogue infrastructure.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAI will be key to this, but it won\u2019t be an easy feat to scale across the NHS without tackling siloed data and outdated systems. At The Royal Marsden, we\u2019ve seen this at work: AI tools being deployed to help radiologists diagnose and monitor cancer progression with greater accuracy and speed,\u201d said Horgan<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis can be delivered, within real-world NHS constraints \u2013 when the right technical and clinical foundations were in place. Without these, AI risks becoming just another layer of complexity rather than a tool that genuinely improves care.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Acknowledging that the wider \u00a386bn funding pledge clearly means technology has come out of the Spending Review looking in good shape, what mattered now was how the money is used, said Mark Boost, CEO of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.civo.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Civo<\/a>, a cloud services provider.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLocal Innovation Partnership funds show promise. They could prove useful in ensuring local leaders share the national government\u2019s enthusiasm for British tech, and make real progress in nurturing regional tech expertise across the country,\u201d said Boost.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHowever, this mustn\u2019t detract from DSIT\u2019s big-picture work. Smaller, local clusters of innovation should go hand in hand with a national digital strategy that prioritises security, sovereignty and fair competition among British firms. Investing in resilient AI infrastructure must be a priority \u2013 otherwise, local innovators will remain beholden to big tech.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"DigDeeperSplash\">\n<h4>\n\t\t\t<i data-icon=\"m\"><\/i>Read more on Healthcare and NHS IT<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/366625856\/UK-government-recommits-to-Edinburgh-supercomputer-plan-with-750m-funding-pledge\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero Images\/Scotland-Edinburgh-city-panorama-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/Scotland-Edinburgh-city-panorama-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/Scotland-Edinburgh-city-panorama-adobe.jpeg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>UK government recommits to Edinburgh supercomputer plan with \u00a3750m funding pledge<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Caroline-Donnelly-CW-contributor-2022-140x180px.JPG\" alt=\"CarolineDonnelly\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Caroline\u00a0Donnelly<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/366621354\/Chancellor-Rachel-Reeves-to-use-AI-to-catch-wealthy-tax-dodgers\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero Images\/UK-sterling-coins-pounds-JackieDavies-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/UK-sterling-coins-pounds-JackieDavies-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/UK-sterling-coins-pounds-JackieDavies-adobe.jpg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>Chancellor Rachel Reeves to use AI to catch wealthy tax dodgers<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Cliff-Saran-Sep-2022-140x180px.jpg\" alt=\"CliffSaran\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Cliff\u00a0Saran<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/366620657\/Starmer-to-send-AI-tech-teams-into-departments\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/HeroImages\/Keir-Starmer-London-CREDIT-House-of-Commons-zgphotography-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/HeroImages\/Keir-Starmer-London-CREDIT-House-of-Commons-zgphotography-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/HeroImages\/Keir-Starmer-London-CREDIT-House-of-Commons-zgphotography-adobe.jpg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>Starmer to send AI tech teams into government departments<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/rms\/lis pic.jpeg\" alt=\"LisEvenstad\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Lis\u00a0Evenstad<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/366619967\/NHS-rolls-out-AI-app-to-predict-and-prevent-falls-that-could-land-patients-in-hospital\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero Images\/healthcare-doctor-icons-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/healthcare-doctor-icons-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/healthcare-doctor-icons-adobe.jpeg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>NHS rolls out AI app to predict and prevent falls that could land patients in hospital<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Caroline-Donnelly-CW-contributor-2022-140x180px.JPG\" alt=\"CarolineDonnelly\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Caroline\u00a0Donnelly<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/366625824\/NHS-IT-the-big-winner-in-Reeves-Spending-Review\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><br \/>\n Zonia Grisby<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The chancellor of the exchequer has significantly upped spending on digital and technology initiatives in the current Spending Review period, with the NHS receiving a 50% tech funding increase By Alex Scroxton, Security Editor Published: 11 Jun 2025 17:54 The NHS has emerged as a big winner from the government\u2019s Spending Review through to 2027<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":855464,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21948,46,1728],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-855463","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-reeves","category-technology","category-winner"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/855463","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=855463"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/855463\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/855464"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=855463"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=855463"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=855463"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}