NHS England Restructure and Implications for Digital Health

But what does it mean in practice? We have laid out the key points below, and what it means for digital healthcare providers:

Just to recap… 

Under the new plan, NHS England’s functions will be absorbed directly into the Department of Health and Social Care. The idea is to create a more streamlined structure, removing the layers of management that some argue have slowed decision-making and innovation. The change comes alongside Labour’s broader 10-year health service strategy, which puts prevention, community-based care, and integrated services at the forefront.

Unfortunately, the restructuring will come with job losses – up to 10,000 roles, mostly in administration and management. While the government says this will free up resources for frontline care, it’s undoubtedly going to have ripple effects across the system.

What does it mean for digital healthcare? 

1. A tighter link to central government – and faster decisions?

By moving NHS England’s functions into the DHSC, digital health initiatives could benefit from clearer oversight and, potentially, faster adoption. Previously, digital transformation efforts were split across NHS England, NHS Digital, and NHSX – and while these have since merged, coordination has still been complex.

This new structure may simplify things. Having single, central authority overseeing strategy, funding, and rollout could make it easier to align digital tools with national priorities and get innovations into the hands of clinicians and patients more quickly.

2. The push for prevention aligns with digital innovation

Labour’s renewed focus on community-based, preventative care could be good news for digital health and innovation. Our sector is already driving tools that support self-management, remote monitoring, and tailored patient information – exactly the kinds of innovations needed to keep people well and reduce pressure on hospitals.

It’s a good time to be working on solutions that empower patients and support primary and community care settings. At Pogo, our work on Tailored Talks is rooted in that very approach: making sure people have the right information, at the right time, in the right way.

3. AI, data and automation are high on the agenda

The government has made it clear that it wants to embrace technologies like artificial intelligence to improve service delivery. Recent announcements have included tools like “Humphrey”, an AI assistant designed to cut through public sector admin.

For digital health, this presents an opportunity to go further with predictive analytics, smarter triage tools, and more personalised patient experiences. But as ever, ethical implementation, safeguarding data, and ensuring solutions work across diverse populations will be key.

4. Mind the digital divide

One area that continues to need focus is digital inclusion. Around 7% of UK households still don’t have internet access at home, and an estimated 10 million people lack basic digital skills. As we digitise more services, we need to make sure no one is left behind.

That means co-designing solutions with users, offering offline options or support where needed, and investing in training for staff and patients alike. For any digital healthcare product to be effective, it has to be accessible.

Final thoughts

 The decision to abolish NHS England is a significant reform in UK healthcare. For those of us in digital health, it’s a moment to lean in. As the NHS redefines itself around integration, prevention, and efficiency, digital tools and services have a critical role to play in making that vision a reality.