AI tech is holding up the NHS
Matt V
March 26, 2025
AI HEALTHCARE
Getting a scan in between errands might sound odd, but in Barnsley, that’s already the norm.
A new NHS centre, tucked between shops, is offering quick appointments and fewer delays.
It’s part of a bigger vision for the next decade of healthcare in England.
The government’s 10-year NHS plan focuses on three main shifts:
Moving more services out of hospitals and into local communities
Putting prevention first
Using new tech and AI to work faster and smarter
South Yorkshire is testing some of these ideas already.
High-street health hubs are speeding things up with modern scanners.
Some GPs are focusing on patients most at risk, aiming to catch health problems early.
Not your nan’s GP appointment
And hospitals like Royal Hallamshire are using AI to cut scan analysis time from 30 minutes to just a few.
But it’s not all smooth.
Long waiting lists, limited funding, and a stretched social care system are slowing things down.
Around 14,000 people are stuck in hospital partly because the care they need at home isn’t available.
The Health Secretary says more NHS funding will go into social care, though we don’t know the numbers yet.
An independent review is in progress, with final recommendations expected in 2028.
NHS England got scrapped before my GP called back.