A Decade of Change: What the NHS 10 Year Plan Means for TEC

04 July 2025

The Government’s new Fit for the Future: 10 Year Health Plan for England signals a shift: away from reactive care, centralised systems and hospital dependence, and towards a more proactive, digital-first, community-based model.

For those of us in Technology Enabled Care (TEC), much of this direction feels familiar. TSA has long been advocating for smarter, person-centred services that keep people safe, independent and supported at home. We’ve seen first-hand how digital innovation can extend reach, improve outcomes and reduce pressure on frontline services. We’ve been proud to work closely with government and NHS leaders to embed TEC into mainstream health and care thinking – recent examples of collaboration include our input on the government's Telecare National Action Plan, and NHS England’s TEC Referral Guidance.

But translating ambition into reality won’t be easy. These reforms are wide-reaching and will demand new ways of working, sustained investment, and a strong focus on delivery. The next few years will be critical.

Three priorities stand out for the TEC sector and the people we support:

Neighbourhood Health Services: The proposed shift to more local, integrated care through Neighbourhood Health Centres has clear potential to bring services closer to where people live. For TEC providers, this opens the door to greater partnership with multi-disciplinary teams and a stronger role in proactive, in-home support, particularly for those with complex or long-term needs.

Digital-first services and patient control: Plans to evolve the NHS App into a front door for care, including appointment booking, care planning, and real-time communication, mark a shift in accessibility. Coupled with a single patient record, this could accelerate TEC integration and enable more joined-up, personalised care. However, digital inclusion, interoperability and data governance must be tackled head-on to realise these gains for all.

A stronger focus on prevention: From expanding personal health budgets to investing in wearables and remote monitoring, the plan puts prevention on the agenda in a meaningful way. This aligns directly with TSA’s ongoing work to position TEC as a proactive and preventative tool- one that empowers people to stay well and live with greater independence and dignity.

C​onclusion

Overall, the plan reflects a growing recognition of what the TEC sector has long understood: that technology, when deployed well, can extend the reach and impact of care. That meaningful change is most powerful when it starts in communities. And that people should be leadersin shaping their own support.

TSA welcomes the direction of travel and will continue to bring the voice of our sector and the people it supports to the heart of implementation. The next decade presents an opportunity to reshape care for the better. With the right focus and collaboration, we can help ensure that transformation improves the lives of people who need it most.