HSJ Health Check Planning guidance explained - with NHS Providers’ CEO
Oct 31, 2025
Daniel Elkeles, CEO of NHS Providers and former leader in London's health services, discusses the new Medium Term Planning Framework. He reveals how this guidance aims to dismantle bureaucratic barriers while addressing tough performance targets. Elkeles emphasizes the challenges around integrating health organizations and reveals insights from his Epsom experience on reducing hospital admissions through neighborhood care. He also sheds light on the recent merger of NHS Providers with the NHS Confederation, highlighting future leadership opportunities.
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Planning Guidance As A Practical Bridge
- The Medium Term Planning Framework is a pragmatic bridge from the 10-year vision to near-term implementation tasks.
- It focuses on actionable delivery steps and admits gaps rather than repeating the 10-year plan's broad ambition.
Plan Around Direction, Not Complete Detail
- Accept the guidance now despite missing details and start planning around its direction.
- Prepare for subsequent documents (financial allocations and contractual models) before doing final plans.
Targets Vary By Service Realistically
- Targets vary in achievability; cancer and ambulance ambitions feel more realistic than UEC and planned care.
- The guidance's ambitions are uniformly high but reception differs by service area.