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3rd July 2025

Why England’s 10-Year NHS Strategy Matters for Wales

Gwyn Tudor, CEO MediWales, Examines Why England’s 10-Year NHS Strategy Matters for Wales

The new 10-Year NHS Strategy for England: Fit for the Future outlines a transformation in healthcare delivery, digital adoption, and innovation pathways across the NHS in England. Although health is a devolved responsibility, many aspects of this strategy will have cross-border implications for Wales.

To ensure consistent healthcare across the UK, NHS Wales may need to consider alignment in several key areas. For Welsh life science and medtech companies, the strategy presents both opportunities and potential challenges.

Key Points That Make the Strategy Relevant to Wales

  1. The Innovator Passport: Unlocking UK-Wide Market Access

England’s proposed Innovator Passport could allow health technologies, once adopted by one NHS organisation, to be quickly used across the wider NHS in England.

  • Why this matters for Wales: With equivalent rapid adoption mechanisms, Welsh patients could benefit from these innovations at the same pace. NHS Wales could establish mutual recognition of the passport to prevent cross-border disparities in care.
  • Opportunity: Welsh life science companies could scale the uptake of innovative products across NHS England more easily, growing market share and delivering patient benefits.
  1. Faster Drug and Device Approvals

England is proposing to streamline regulatory processes by cutting NICE appraisal times by around 30% and extending these accelerated routes to medtech and digital products.

  • Why this matters for Wales: NHS Wales typically follows NICE guidance, but slower uptake compared to England could create inconsistencies in treatment options and patient expectations.
  • Opportunity: Welsh companies could benefit from quicker approvals in England and in Wales, if NHS Wales is ready to adopt these approvals promptly to ensure equitable access.
  1. National Genomics and AI-Driven Diagnostics

England’s plan to universally sequence newborn genomes and accelerate AI-driven diagnostics will create vast data networks and technological standards.

  • Why this matters for Wales: Integration with these genomic and digital platforms is essential for continuity of care, especially for Welsh patients who access services across the border.
  • Opportunity: Welsh genomics and AI companies can collaborate on England’s large-scale pilots, provided Wales invests in compatible data infrastructure and regulatory alignment.
  1. Shift from Hospitals to Community-Based Care

England’s planned expansion of community health centres already aligns with NHS Wales’ long-standing ambition to deliver care closer to home.

  • Why this matters for Wales: Divergence in service models could lead to variation in patient pathways and care experiences across borders.
  • Opportunity: Welsh companies specialising in digital health, remote monitoring, and community-based solutions are well positioned to influence developments and deliver solutions on both sides of the border.
  1. Industrial Strategy and Trade Strategy Alignment

The English strategy is directly linked to the UK Government’s ambition to make the UK a top three global life science economy by 2035.

  • Why this matters for Wales: Access to UK-level funding and participation in global trade strategies are essential for Welsh life science companies to compete and grow.
  • Opportunity: Welsh companies can position themselves to secure UK-wide investment and benefit from shared research, innovation networks, and commercialisation platforms.

Recommendations

  • Welsh Life Science Companies: Engage proactively with NHS partners in both nations and build cross-border collaborations to fully exploit the opportunities of the new strategy.
  • NHS Wales: Establish formal mechanisms to align with NHS England’s Innovator Passport, fast-track adoption schemes, and regulatory timelines to ensure Welsh patients are not disadvantaged.
  • Welsh Government: Work to secure Welsh inclusion in UK-level life science investment strategies and industrial growth programmes, ensuring Wales can share in the benefits of the UK’s expanding global life sciences position.