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We’ve analysed NHS budgets to uncover funding directed towards strategic projects at the heart of the NHS Long Term Plan. Using our exclusive ICS Budget Directory, we've pinpointed 2.2bn in national programme funding allocated to four major projects driving the NHS forward this year.

The aim of this report is to help you understand where the NHS is investing for the future and how you can make the most of the opportunities across these national programmes, their projects, and the ICSs involved.

What is national programme funding?

'National programme funding', managed centrally by NHS England, is a combined budget distributed across four key national programmes. These programmes are designed to support ICSs in executing projects that are deemed national priorities. The four programmes, along with their associated projects and objectives, are:

• Targeted Investment Fund: Accelerating elective care recovery to address the patient backlog.
• Frontline Digitisation: Implementing accessible Electronic Patient Records to unlock digital maturity.
• Diagnostics: Building Community Diagnostic Centres to enhance capacity for timely patient care.
• Mental Health: Modernising mental health services to improve crisis response infrastructure.

By aggregating the 'national programme funding' allocated to each ICS, we've identified that NHS England has earmarked £2.2bn towards these strategic projects this year.

To help you identify which regions are benefiting the most, we’ve ranked ICSs by their 2023/2024 funding allocation below. 

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The table above provides a clear breakdown of national programme funding allocations across different regions. But having the data is just the first step. The real advantage lies in how suppliers use this information.

Successful NHS suppliers don't just wait for buyers to release opportunities; they proactively use early signals to identify regions with concrete needs for their offerings and craft strategic account plans to engage decision-makers pre-tender. Ready to get ahead? Start your journey with Stotles today.

Through a detailed analysis of procurement plans in the ICS Budget Directory, we've pinpointed how NHS buyers intend to spend this £2.2bn funding pot.

Specifically, ICSs have allocated over £1.5bn towards four major strategic projects: Elective Care Recovery, Electronic Patient Records, Community Diagnostic Centres, and Mental Health Transformation.

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For each project, we'll highlight funded opportunities for suppliers and their anticipated impact on NHS England's objectives. These insights will provide suppliers with a clear understanding of where NHS buyers are channeling their resources and how you can align your offerings with these strategic priorities.

1. Elective care recovery: Addressing the patient backlog

Objective: Establish elective care hubs and theatres to increase patient treatment capacity and speed up patient discharge.

Financing: Supported via the Elective Recovery stream of the Targeted Investment Fund.

Investment: ICSs have committed over £430m towards elective care in 2023/2024.

Opportunities for suppliers: In September 2021, NHS England launched the Targeted Investment Fund to accelerate the recovery of our patient care services. With the introduction of a new "elective recovery" stream in 2023, there's significant demand for:

• New elective care beds: Increasing the number of beds to accommodate more patients.
• State-of-the-art elective theatres and surgical hubs: Introducing mModern facilities to improve surgical outcomes.
• Day surgery units: Expanding outpatient space to cater to more patients without requiring overnight stays.
• Upgraded imaging equipment: Including advanced MRI machines and mobile breast screening units, ensuring timely and accurate diagnostics.

Using the ICS Budget Directory, we have identified major Elective Care Projects supported by the Targeted Investment Fund this year, ranked by total ICS investment below. This list is especially relevant for healthcare and hospital suppliers, providing a clear roadmap of funded opportunities to engage with this year.‍

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We have pulled the data in this table by combining “ongoing schemes” and “upcoming business cases” published by ICBs in their 2023/2024 capital resource plans. It's important to note that these figures might encompass funds from various sources and could be distributed across multiple fiscal years.

Offering elective recovery solutions or related services? Ensure you're in the loop with the latest contracts that can elevate the NHS's digitisation journey. Stay ahead of the game and identify upcoming opportunities for your business.

2. Electronic Patient Records (EPRs): Unlocking digital maturity across the NHS

Objective: Implement standardised EPRs across all NHS facilities to ensure seamless patient data access across England.

Financing: Supported by the Frontline Digitisation Programme.

Investment: ICSs have committed over £301 towards electronic patient records in 2023/2024.

Opportunities for suppliers: With the NHSs ambitious goal of achieving complete digitisation of patient records by 2025, there's a pressing demand for robust EPR solutions and associated services. This creates opportunities for suppliers specialising in:

• EPR Software Solutions: Provision of tailored EPR software that aligns with NHS standards, ensuring secure, efficient, and user-friendly interfaces.
• Integration Services: Offering solutions that ensure seamless interoperability between different health systems, especially crucial as the NHS interacts with various platforms and third-party systems.
• Training and Support: Comprehensive training programs for NHS staff to familiarise them with new EPR systems, along with ongoing technical support to address challenges and ensure smooth operations.
• Data Migration: Expertise in transitioning from legacy systems to new EPR platforms, ensuring data integrity, security, and minimal operational disruptions.

Using the ICS Budget Directory, we have identified major EPR projects supported by the Frontline Digitisation Fund this year, ranked by total ICS investment below. This list is relevant for IT & Software suppliers, who can use this list to identify funded opportunities to target this year. ‍

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We have pulled the data in this table by combining “ongoing schemes” and “upcoming business cases” published by ICBs in their 2023/2024 capital resource plans. It's important to note that these figures might encompass funds from various sources and could be distributed across multiple fiscal years.

Offering EPR solutions or related services? Ensure you're in the loop with the latest contracts that can elevate the NHS's digitisation journey. Stay ahead of the game and identify upcoming opportunities for your business.

3. Community Diagnostic Centres: Enhancing diagnostic capabilities for timely care

Objective: Establish up to 160 Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) across England by 2025 to enhance diagnostic capabilities and reduce patient wait times.

Financing: Supported by Diagnostics programme funding.

Investment: ICSs have committed over £292m to CDC's in 2023/2024.
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Opportunities for suppliers: The NHS's ambitious goal of building 160 new Community Diagnostic Centres by 2025 underscores its commitment to revolutionising diagnostic capabilities. This initiative presents significant opportunities for suppliers, including:

• Infrastructure & Construction: Building and setting up the infrastructure for the new CDCs, ensuring they are equipped with the latest facilities and adhere to NHS standards.
• Diagnostic Equipment: Supplying state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, including CT, MRI, ultrasound, and endoscopy machines, to meet the demand for over 700,000 additional tests.
• Training & Support: Offering training programs for NHS staff on the latest diagnostic equipment and providing ongoing technical support.
• Operational Management: Solutions and services for the efficient management and operation of these centres, ensuring timely and accurate delivery of diagnostic results.

Using the ICS Budget Directory, we have identified major CDC investments supported by diagnostics programmes this year, ranked by total ICS investment below. This list is especially relevant for healthcare diagnostic equipment suppliers and related service providers, offering a clear roadmap to funded opportunities they can tap into this year.

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We have pulled the data in this table by combining “ongoing schemes” and “upcoming business cases” published by ICBs in their 2023/2024 capital resource plans. It's important to note that these figures might encompass funds from various sources and could be distributed across multiple fiscal years.

Specialising in diagnostic equipment or diagnostic centre setups? The NHS is investing heavily in CDCs. Track the latest contracts to position your offerings at the forefront of this diagnostic revolution.

4. Mental health: Modernising & improving crisis response infrastructure

Objective: Improve mental health crisis infrastructure to ensure individuals experiencing a mental health crisis receive timely, compassionate, and specialised care in the most appropriate setting.

Financing: Supported by the Mental Health programme.

Investment: ICSs have allocated over £476m to mental health projects in 2023/2024.

Opportunities for suppliers: The UK government's commitment to enhancing mental health care infrastructure and response mechanisms presents significant opportunities for suppliers:

• Infrastructure Development: £143 million has been designated to provide new and improve existing mental health crisis response infrastructure, including the establishment of crisis cafes, houses, and hubs.
• Emergency Response Vehicles: £7m has been set aside for the procurement of up to 100 new mental health ambulances, offering opportunities for vehicle suppliers and outfitters.
• Facility Upgrades: Funding is also earmarked for the eradication of outdated dormitory wards, ensuring patients' safety, dignity, and privacy. This presents opportunities for construction, renovation, and interior design suppliers.
• Training & Support: With the expansion and modernisation of facilities, there will be a need for training programs for NHS staff on new protocols and equipment, as well as ongoing technical and operational support.

Using the ICS Budget Directory, we have identified major mental health investments supported by the Mental Health Programme this year, ranked by total ICS investment below. This list is especially relevant for mental health care providers, emergency response equipment suppliers, and related service providers, offering a clear roadmap to funded opportunities they can tap into this year.

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We have pulled the data in this table by combining “ongoing schemes” and “upcoming business cases” published by ICBs in their 2023/2024 capital resource plans. It's important to note that these figures might encompass funds from various sources and could be distributed across multiple fiscal years.

Providing mental health services, infrastructure, or support tools? The NHS is prioritising mental health like never before. Keep on top of the latest contracts to identify opportunities in this transformative phase.

Next steps to win NHS opportunities

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NHS England's commitment of £2.2bn to transformative projects underscores its vision and commitment to the NHS Long Term Plan. For suppliers, this presents a golden opportunity to be part of this transformation. To truly capitalise on these opportunities, a strategic approach to NHS sales is essential. Here are some insights from our ICS Budget Playbook to guide your journey:

1) Be specific about the opportunities you want to pursue

Focus on projects that align with your core competencies. With national programme funding backing diverse projects like Community Diagnostic Centres and EPR Implementation, ensure you're targeting emerging opportunities that resonate with your expertise.

2) Focus on target regions

Different regions have varying priorities and budgets. Dive deep into the budget allocations for each ICS to pinpoint where your solutions might be most needed and valued, and laser your focus onto these target accounts.

3)Forge strategic partnerships

Collaborate with suppliers or entities already engaged with your target accounts. Their established relationships can provide insights into upcoming opportunities and open doors for potential collaborations.

4) Engage proactively with decision-makers

Don't wait for tenders to open to the public. Build relationships with NHS stakeholders in advance. Understand their challenges and position your solutions as the answer, ensuring you are top-of-mind when opportunities arise.

For a more detailed guide on navigating the NHS contract landscape, especially in the context of ICS budgets, delve into our 'ICS Budget Playbook: How to identify and win NHS contracts'.

Conclusion

The NHS's strategic investment in transformative projects for 2023/2024 underscores its commitment to enhancing patient care and driving innovation in the healthcare sector.

With a substantial £2.2bn earmarked for national programme funding, suppliers are presented with a golden opportunity to align their offerings with the NHS's key objectives. From accelerating elective care recovery to unlocking digital maturity, the scope of these projects is vast and varied. As suppliers navigate this landscape, it's crucial to stay informed, proactive, and strategic.

By leveraging insights from resources like the ICS Budget Directory and understanding the nuances of each funding programme, suppliers can position themselves at the forefront of the NHS's transformative journey. To take the next step and identify upcoming opportunities, engage with decision makers and fast tack your NHS sales, get started with Stotles today.

Data Sources

We’ve identified regional "national programme funding" information in this report by aggregating data from ICS level Capital Resource Plans, which are dispersed across Integrated Care Board (ICB) websites.

Project based funding totals were calculated by combining “ongoing schemes” and “upcoming business cases”, published within these plans.

To access a full view of ICS Capital Resource Plans, click here to access the ICS Budget Directory.

Glossary

Capital Resource Plan:

Capital Resource Plans are published annually by ICB's and set out how they will prioritise and spend NHS capital funding to achieve the strategic aims for their ICS within the fiscal year.

These plans outline assumed funding sources, capital allocations, ongoing schemes and upcoming business cases.

‍NHS England:

NHS England provides national leadership for the NHS. They are responsible for the overall strategy and budget setting across the country.

National Programmes:

National programme funding is held centrally by NHS England and is allocated to trusts undergoing major projects, considered priority by NHE. Flagship programmes include: Targeted Investment Fund, Frontline Digitisation, Diagnostics and Mental Health. 
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Integrated Care System:

"Integrated care systems (ICSs) are partnerships of organisations that come together to plan and deliver joined up health and care services, and to improve the lives of people who live and work in their area."(NHS England)

Introduced inthe Health and Care Act (2022), 42 ICSs were established across England on a statutory basis on 1 July 2022.

Integrated Care Board:

ICBs are newly formed NHS organisations within each ICS region that manage the functions and budgets for the provision of health services within the ICS.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) replaced clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in the NHS in England from 1 July 2022.