At Curia’s recent parliamentary event, which launched our new report, with life sciences and diagnostics company, Revvity, Andrew Gwynne MP, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention, outlined Labour’s plan for NHS renewal.
He outlined the Labour government plan for a “10-year mission for national renewal” of the NHS. Gwynne highlighted: “And that’s not just about fixing our broken NHS to meet the needs of today. It’s about using this unique opportunity to shape a health and care system that meets the needs of the future.”
As part of this endeavor, Gwynne celebrated the success of events such as Curia’s “Transforming Care, Saving Lives: Revitalising UK Life Sciences and Diagnostics” report launch to showcase insights from experts, he also went further and stressed the need for public input as Labour begins this transformation of the NHS.
Tackling Health Inequalities
A central point of Gwynne’s speech was on how Labour will look to focus on tackling regional inequality in health. Highlighting the regional disparities and the economic consequences that result. Sharing a stark picture from his first day at the Health department, Gywnne recalled:
“What I was briefed on was truly shocking. A woman in a less deprived part of the country will live on average to around 87 and a bit years. Her counterpart, that lives in a poorer part of the country will live to 78, not quite, but as close to a decade’s difference as you’re likely to get on average. But that wasn’t the most shocking part…for the woman who lives in the less deprived part of the country, living to 87 and a bit years old on average, she will fall ill with comorbidities in retirement at the age of 71. But for that other woman who will only live to 78, she falls ill with comorbidities at 52. And to me, that shocked me to the core. That is morally reprehensible and wrong on so many levels.”
AI and Technology In Healthcare
Gwynne outlined a number of key changes that he believes will drive the revival of the NHS. One being the transformative potential of AI and digital tools in healthcare. Gwynne commented “On one level, it’s frightening, it is literally science fiction becoming science fact. But if we get it right, with the right frameworks, the right protections, innovation can be a massive game changer, both in terms of productivity and outcomes for patients.”
He shared a personal example from Great Ormond Street Hospital, where AI streamlined a mock consultation by documenting relevant health information, drafting consultation notes, and scheduling follow-ups instantly.
Gywnne addressed the room and pledged support to the life sciences industry to achieve this, in particular around the government having the right attitude to work with the industry to provide better frameworks and regulations, as well as quicker access for patients to receive new innovative medical trials & inventions.
Preventing Illness: A New Focus
Preventative healthcare emerged as another key pillar of Labour’s plan. Gwynne stressed that shifting resources towards prevention can reduce the long-term burden on the NHS. Gywnne highlighted that:
“Our NHS today is spending around 40% of its budget on fixing entirely preventable illness. And with the demographic challenges of the decades ahead and the cost pressures of providing health care to meet those demographic challenges, because we are living longer. However we are living longer with comorbidities and at greater cost to the healthcare system. That percentage grows exponentially and that is not sustainable”.
Final Thought
Concluding his address, Gwynne acknowledged the challenges ahead but expressed optimism. “The NHS was the leading health care system for the 20th century. I want to make sure that as we rebuild it for the 21st century.”
The revival of the healthcare sector will be done through further partnership with the public and private sector such as life science companies like Revvity, as well as transformative public bodies such the Generation Study and the NHS Genomic Medicine Service which work to improve diagnostics and patient outcomes.
If these partnerships can continue to flourish with further innovation then the Labour Government will be in a better place to achieve its 10 year mission for national renewal.
To watch Minister Gwynne’s full speech, please click below and subscribe to Chamber UK’s YouTube channel.
You can download Curia’s Transforming Care, Saving Lives: Revitalising UK Life Sciences and Diagnostics” report below.
