The building blocks of next generation healthcare already exist. Without deliberate action, however, they will remain fragmented, unevenly distributed and unable to deliver system-wide impact.

This is why we need an action agenda. One that government, system leaders, clinicians, patient groups, employers and providers can align behind to scale digital-first care safely, fairly and at pace.

At the centre is a simple model: a single digital front door, integrated with in-person services, that routes patients to the right care and modality in the first instance -supported by an interoperable record that moves with the patient. Instead of a jumble of disconnected options, people should experience one joined-up pathway: from navigation to resolution.

AI should be deployed where it delivers the fastest, safest gains, on workflow and capacity, supporting consistent triage, reducing administrative burden, and ensuring clinical time is used where it matters most.

These actions are framed for the UK, but the principles are relevant across advanced health systems globally. Together, they are designed to deliver three outcomes:

Stabilise and modernise public health systems

• Build a unified digital front door for care, integrated with in-person services, so patients are routed quickly to the right modality.
• Make interoperable health records the norm, enabling continuity across providers and reducing duplication.
• Treat connectivity as health infrastructure, prioritising broadband and device access for underserved populations.
• Commission end-to-end pathways, with incentives aligned to completed care and outcomes rather than activity alone.

Empower patients and clinicians as co-pilots

• Give patients clarity, choice and transparency, including plain-language explanations of how AI is used in their care.
• Put AI to work on administration and workflow, so clinicians can practise at the top of their licence.
• Co-design digital services with patients and clinicians, publishing experience and outcome data to build trust.
• Invest in training and change management, ensuring the workforce can shape and safely adopt new tools.

Unleash digital-first care responsibly

• Create clear regulatory guardrails and sandboxes for AI-enabled healthcare, permitting innovation while maintaining safety and accountability.
• Champion digital health at the centre of government, with clear leadership and cross-departmental coordination.
• Reform fit notes into dynamic recovery plans, embedding digital health in return-to-work pathways.
• Forge structured public–private partnerships that expand capacity under shared standards and deliver measurable outcomes at scale.

With the right leadership, policy and partnerships, next generation healthcare can be delivered today - improving access for patients, restoring sustainability for clinicians and systems, and strengthening the economic and social foundations on which healthcare ultimately depends.

Next generation healthcare is not a future promise. It is a critical imperative and the next decade will be decisive. The building blocks already exist; what’s missing is alignment.

That is why we are calling for a shared action agenda: connected pathways, not point solutions; data that moves with the patient; and clinically governed digital-first care that is digital when it should be, human where it counts.

We invite policymakers, system leaders, employers, payers and patient groups to help turn pilots into infrastructure - and to measure and publish outcomes so progress is visible, trusted and scalable.