Tag: 2025

PRESS RELEASE : £150m Capital Grants offer returns to help farmers boost profits [July 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 3 July 2025.

The government is making a substantial investment in the future of farming, supporting cleaner rivers, healthier soils, and more resilient landscapes.

Thousands of farmers will benefit from £150 million in new funding as the government opens a new round of its flagship Capital Grants offer, supporting sustainable food production and environmental improvement.

The offer funds a wide range of on-farm projects – from tree planting and flood prevention to improved slurry storage and water filtration – helping farmers boost profitability while protecting the environment.

Last year alone, Capital Grants helped plant over 4,000 miles of hedgerows and upgrade slurry systems to keep our rivers clean – real, tangible improvements for farming and the environment.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed said:

British farmers work tirelessly to feed the nation and look after our countryside. This major investment will give them the tools to cut pollution, restore nature, and grow their businesses.

It forms part of the record £11.8 billion we’ve committed to sustainable farming during this Parliament – boosting food security, supporting rural growth, and protecting the environment.

The announcement is the latest in a series of steps taken by the government to support the farming industry. These include slashing costs for food producers by cutting red tape on exports to the EU, appointing former NFU president Baroness Minette Batters to recommend reforms to boost farmers’ profits, and ensuring farmers get a bigger share of food contracts across our schools, hospitals, and prisons.

Farmers and land managers are now able to apply for a total of 78 items, ranging from supporting natural flood management projects to improving water quality on farms under this new round of the Capital Grants offer. Four new items have been added including assessing woodland condition, creating wildfire management plans, repairing drystone walls and hosting educational visits.

Changes are also being introduced to ensure that more farm businesses can access these grants – making it fairer for farmers by setting funding limits that maximise the number of farms benefiting, while enabling Defra to manage budgets more effectively. This includes funding limits to four of the six groups of capital items in this Capital Grants offer. An application can include items from each of the six groups. The funding limit for four of the groups is:
- £25,000 maximum for each of the following three groups: water quality, air quality, and natural flood management
- £35,000 maximum for the group covering boundaries, trees, and orchards
Defra will also listen to feedback from farmers and use it to improve the offer ahead of the next round, which we plan to open in 2026.

This comes as the Environment Secretary and Farming Minister head to the Groundswell Show to discuss the new Capital Grants launch. More details about the reformed SFI scheme will be published this Summer.

This is part of the government’s wider Plan for Change to grow the rural economy, support our farmers and boost Britain’s food security.
July 9, 2025

PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Latvia – Kathy Leach ]July 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 July 2025.

Ms Kathy Leach has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Latvia in succession to Mr Paul Brummell CMG, who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Ms Leach will take up her appointment during August 2025.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Kathy Leach

Date	Role
2021 to present	Astana, His Majesty’s Ambassador
2019 to 2020	FCDO, Deputy Director, Constitution and Devolution, Europe Directorate
2015 to 2018	FCO, Head then Deputy Director, Policy Unit, Strategy Directorate
2012 to 2015	Yerevan, Her Majesty’s Ambassador
2007 to 2011	Tokyo, Head, Energy and Environment Team
2005	FCO, Deputy Head, Passport and Documentary Services, Consular
2001 to 2004	Moscow, First Secretary Security Policy, then Internal Political
2000 to 2001	FCO, Desk Officer, EU Trade and Development Policy, Europe Directorate
2000	Joined FCO

July 9, 2025

PRESS RELEASE : Suspected people smuggling gang taken down in nationwide strikes [July 2025]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 3 July 2025.

Seven members of a suspected organised crime group believed to have made millions have been arrested in West Yorkshire and Essex.

A suspected people-smuggling gang has been arrested for allegedly using false identity documents to smuggle hundreds of people into the UK illegally, luring them into a life of exploitation and misery.

On Tuesday 1 July, Immigration Enforcement officers executed warrants in Greater London, and Batley, West Yorkshire and arrested 7 suspects. The targets are believed to have used forged passports and visas of people with legitimate status in the UK to facilitate their illegal arrival, and subsequent employment in black market businesses.

The gang is believed to have facilitated the illegal entry of over 500 people with no right to be in the UK.

Their alleged money-grabbing scheme is believed to have developed into a wide-scale, dangerous criminal network operating across the country, with the 5 men and 3 women believed to have sent fake documents to beneficiaries to evade detection from law enforcement. The gang, who largely targeted Gambian nationals, are also suspected of re-using the fraudulent documents for different imposters hoping to make it to the UK illegally, with an ongoing investigation revealing a substantial quantity of images of passports found on the main suspect’s mobile phone.

From booking flights to housing the migrants on arrival and providing them with illegal work, the gang provided a full service and charged around £5,000 per person.

This particular gang, like many others, is believed to be charging substantial fees for arranging illegal entry to the UK, with the main suspect believed to have a turnover of over £1.3m in his bank account despite claiming to only earn £35,000 a year working for a furniture manufacturing company.

Another suspect is believed to have a turnover of over £1m across two bank accounts whilst simultaneously receiving Universal Credit. A further investigation will be launched in order to recover the profits made by this suspected organised criminal gang.

At the various addresses visited, officers seized several counterfeit identity documents which are believed to have been used in this criminal scheme.

These arrests form part of this government’s Plan for Change to strengthen the UK’s border security, which is already delivering results, with almost 30,000 people with no right to be here returned since the election and a turbocharge in immigration enforcement activity across the country which has led to a 51% increase in the number of illegal working arrests.

Organised criminal gangs who are driven by profit often go to extreme lengths to make their cash, disregarding the safety of humans. The suspects in this case are believed to have been exploiting those they promised to help by forcing them to work in private homes under their control, leaving the survivors trapped in unsafe situations and exhausted for little or no pay.

Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Dame Angela Eagle said:

This operation is a clear display that we will not stand by and let evil criminal gangs abuse our immigration system.

This suspected gang promised their beneficiaries a better life here in the UK. Instead, they face heinous levels of exploitation which is exactly why we are working with law enforcement to ensure survivors of modern slavery are supported and the criminal gangs face justice.

Our Border Security Command has £280m of additional funding over the next 4 years to deliver the step-change required to break their business models and deliver our Plan for Change to restore order to the immigration system.

Ben Ryan, Chief Operating Officer at Medaille Trust, said:

Medaille Trust is delighted to have collaborated on this operation and to have played a part in ensuring that victims were identified and supported to begin their recovery as survivors.

We believe that collaborative efforts like this between the Home Office and civil society provide a model for confronting the evils of modern slavery; with a focus on both pursuing abusers and recognising and supporting survivors.

The Home Office’s Criminal Financial Investigations team works closely with charities like Medaille Trust to support the victims of organised crime by keeping them at the heart of any investigation, providing invaluable expertise and support to the most vulnerable. Through closer collaboration we are able to identify victims and offer them a safe haven to come forward about the abuse they have faced. Medaille Trust provide refuge and freedom from modern slavery and are one of the largest providers of supported safe house beds for victims of modern slavery in the UK.

Cracking down on abuse of the immigration system is central to securing the UK’s borders. As set out in the Immigration White Paper in May, the government will introduce tighter controls, restrictions, and scrutiny of those who attempt to abuse and misuse the immigration system. This includes strengthening border security by rolling out digital identity for all overseas citizens through the implementation of eVisas and new systems for checking visa compliance.

July 9, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Cameroon’s hidden green treasures unveiled in a book [July 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 July 2025.

The vulnerability of Cameroon’s rich plant biodiversity, with over 850 endangered species is highlighted in the book “Important Plant Areas of Cameroon”.

In a powerful moment for conservation, the book “Important Plant Areas of Cameroon” was officially launched on 18 June during UK – Cameroon Climate Week. This groundbreaking publication reveals a stunning yet sobering reality: over 850 endangered plant species are spread across 49 critical biodiversity hotspots in Cameroon.

Co-authored by experts from Cameroon’s Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) National Herbarium, and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the book positions Cameroon as Africa’s most tropically diverse nation. From lush rainforests to arid deserts, the country’s ecosystems are as varied as they are vital. Yet, this rich biodiversity faces mounting threats. 10% of Cameroon’s plant species are now endangered, and the country holds the highest number of threatened trees on the continent.

The culprits? Expanding mining operations, aggressive logging, and the relentless spread of palm oil plantations are rapidly eroding Cameroon’s forests. These activities not only endanger plant life but also jeopardize the ecological balance of the entire Congo Basin.

British High Commissioner Matt Woods used the book’s launch to spotlight Cameroon’s critical role in global climate discussions. He urged the international community to amplify Cameroon’s voice at major forums like COP30 and called for stronger global support to safeguard the Congo Basin’s irreplaceable biodiversity.

Speaking during the book launch, the representative of Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, Prof. Philip Stevenson said:

It’s been a fantastic week of new collaboration. We’ve been working with IRAD National Herbarium and developing opportunities to extend our reach and do more work here in Cameroon.

This book is more than a catalogue of rare plants; it is a call to action. As the world grapples with climate change and biodiversity loss, Cameroon’s green treasures remind us of what’s at stake and what we still have the power to protect.

July 9, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Huge aerial attacks on civilians and inflammatory remarks show us Moscow is not serious about peace – UK statement to the OSCE [July 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 July 2025.

UK Chargé d’Affaires, Deputy Ambassador James Ford, condemns Russia’s intensification of attacks against civilians in Ukraine, including its largest aerial assault of the war. This and inflammatory comments that run counter to Russia’s international commitments are further evidence that Moscow is still not serious about peace.

Thank you, Madam Chair. It is now nearly four months since Ukraine agreed to the US proposal for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. By contrast, Russia has not only refused to accept the proposal but has continued to intensify its attacks against Ukraine.

In fact, since direct talks began on 16 May, Russia has launched its biggest aerial attacks of the war. It broke its shameful records again at the start of this week, when it launched more than 500 aerial weapons at Ukraine.

As well as being the most intense aerial attacks of the war, these recent assaults have also been among the most deadly for Ukraine’s innocent civilians. The attack on the Dnipro region on 24 June killed 20 civilians, left more than 270 others wounded and damaged schools and hospitals. And the horrific attack against Kyiv on 16-17 June, which destroyed a civilian residential building, killed 30 civilians and left a further 172 people injured. This was the second deadliest attack on Kyiv since the full-scale invasion began. So far in 2025, Russian attacks have killed more than 1000 civilians in Ukraine.

These are not the actions of a government that is serious about peace. They are the actions of those who believe they can take advantage while the world is distracted by events elsewhere. It is our collective responsibility here to dispel this notion, to remind them that the world is watching and to ensure that Moscow understands that there will be a cost for frustrating peace and attacking innocent civilians.

Madam Chair, when it comes to peace, we have learnt to assess Russia’s actions rather than Russian rhetoric. But if we needed further evidence that Moscow is not currently serious about compromise or ending the war, we can look at the recent comments made by the President of the Russian Federation, as our Ukrainian colleague also highlighted.

On 18 June he said that, if Ukraine did not agree to Russia’s terms, “we will achieve our goals by military means.” On 20 June he said that “the Russian and Ukrainian peoples are essentially one people. In that sense, we see Ukraine as ours.” He also described as a long-standing principle that “wherever the foot of a Russian soldier steps is Russian land.”

Clearly, such statements run directly counter to the Helsinki commitments to which we have all agreed. And, alongside the escalation in attacks against Ukrainian civilians, they underline Moscow’s lack of seriousness about peace talks.

Madam Chair, as the UK – along with the vast majority of participating States here at the OSCE – we continue to call on Russia to agree to a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire to create the space for negotiations on a framework for a just and lasting peace. Regrettably, we see no evidence that Russia will engage meaningfully without further pressure to do so. We are therefore ready to act with partners to introduce new sanctions if Moscow continues to ignore these widespread calls for a ceasefire. Thank you.

July 9, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Cheers as Argentina grants Scotch Whisky historic protection [July 2025]

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 3 July 2025.

Scotch Whisky becomes the first international product to gain legal protection in Argentina as a Geographical Indication.

Argentina has given Scotch Whisky its seal of approval as the first ever international product to receive Geographical Indication (GI) status in the country.

The protection recognises what makes a dram of Scotch truly special – centuries of craftsmanship, distinctive production methods, and that unmistakable Scottish character that can’t be replicated anywhere else.

This legal protection ensures products labelled as Scotch Whisky are genuine and meet strict production standards. This will help tackle counterfeit products, giving shoppers confidence they are buying an authentic product and distillers reassurance to expand their presence in a market without risk of imitation products undermining their reputation.

This also marks the first international product to gain legal protection in Argentina, highlighting the increasing global demand for authentic British products overseas. British food and drink exports reached record levels in 2024, with GI products accounting for approximately 25% of all UK food and drink exports and an estimated annual value exceeding £6 billion.

Daniel Zeichner, Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, said:

Argentina’s legal protection of Scotch Whisky marks another triumph for this world-class British export.

In just six months we’ve driven a breakthrough trade agreement with India while securing legal protections for dozens of beloved British products across the globe – from the markets of São Paulo to the streets of Tokyo.

This government won’t stop here. We’re unlocking doors for UK exporters worldwide, putting British products on more shelves and tables – delivering real economic growth as part of our Plan for Change.

Trade Minister Douglas Alexander said:

Scotch Whisky is the first foreign product to receive special protection in Argentina which is testament to not only the strength of our trade ties with Argentina, but the prestige and reach of Scotland’s world-renowned product.

This is another win for an industry already bolstered by our deal with India which slashes whisky tariffs by half immediately and then down even further in the years to come, demonstrating our action to boost Scotland’s businesses and delivering economic growth under the Plan for Change.

Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said:

There is no substitute for authentic Scotch Whisky and it’s fantastic news that collaborative work between the UK Government and Scotch Whisky Association has convinced the Argentine authorities to give our national drink – and one of our biggest exports – the protection it deserves.

Opening up new markets and expanding existing ones for our producers is key to growing the economy and the UK Government’s Plan for Change. Scotland’s food and drink industry and our Brand Scotland campaign will play an important part in that. This is excellent news to all the whisky producers who put Scotland on the global stage with our world-famous spirit. Salud!

The recognition comes just months after securing protected status for 39 additional British specialities in Japan and a landmark trade deal with India which slashed whisky tariffs by 50%, creating substantial commercial opportunities for UK businesses overseas under the government’s Plan for Change.

July 9, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Pathway to the launch of the Steel Strategy [July 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 3 July 2025.

In the run-up to launching the Steel Strategy later this year, Industry Minister Sarah Jones has welcomed a series of recent wins for the sector.

This government is committed to a bright and sustainable future for steelmaking in the UK, as part of our Plan for Change.

In the run-up to launching the Steel Strategy later this year, Industry Minister Sarah Jones has welcomed a series of recent wins for the sector following government backing. The Government has taken major action on areas crucial for the sector, from trade protections and electricity costs to procurement, including:

Industrial Strategy and Spending Review
- Slashing electricity costs for steel producers by cutting network charges via the Supercharger by 90%, up from 60%, as announced in our modern Industrial Strategy.
- Streamlining grid access for major investment projects — including prioritising those that create high-quality jobs and deliver significant economic benefits – through a new Connections Accelerator Service.
- We will work closely with the energy sector, local authorities, Welsh and Scottish Governments, trade unions, and industry to design this service, which we expect to begin operating at the end of 2025.
- New powers in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, currently before parliament, could also allow the Government to reserve grid capacity for strategically important projects, cutting waiting times and unlocking growth in key sectors.
- The Industrial Strategy’s support for sectors such as Advanced Manufacturing will also increase demand for steel as a foundational product, as demand for lightweight and precision engineered steel products increases.
- Confirming funding in the Spending Review for a £500 million grant to Tata Steel in Port Talbot as part of a £1.25bn transformation deal to construct an Electric Arc Furnace.
Trade
- Strengthening current steel safeguard measures by slowing future increases in spikes of foreign imports, capping certain import levels and tightening country-specific limits – ensuring UK steel producers won’t be undercut while still making sure the UK has a steady and reliable supply.
- Announcing our intent to launch new laws to expand our powers to respond to unfair trade practices, and guard against global turbulence in critical sectors, such as steel, as announced in the Trade Strategy.
- Inviting steel producers, consumers and stakeholders across the supply chain to shape our future approach to trade measures for steel in a new call for evidence, as we continue to support the UK steel industry from unfair trading practices and strengthen the UK’s critical supply chains after the expiry of steel safeguard in June 2026.
Procurement
- Changing government procurement rules, via the publication of a new Steel Public Procurement Notice, to ensure UK-made-steel is considered for all public projects and to use exemptions in buying rules to support steel makers wherever possible. This will give them access to more of the £400bn spent by the Government each year on procurement and help to protect our national security.
- Publishing a pipeline of UK infrastructure projects taking place over the next few years. The 2025 data shows that over 7.5 million tonnes steel will be needed for these projects.
- British Steel securing a £500m contract with Network Rail to supply over 337,000 tonnes of rail track, providing 80% of the company’s needs and helping to secure jobs.
Industry Minister Sarah Jones said:

This government recognises how vital steel is to our economy. That’s why we’re taking the decisive action needed to back the sector for the future, whether it’s slashing energy prices, strengthening government procurement or bolstering our trade defence measures.

Our upcoming Steel Strategy will set out our long-term vision for the sector and how we’ll work with industry and communities to deliver a bright, sustainable future for UK steelmaking that secures good, well-paid jobs across the country as part of our Plan for Change.

The Steel Strategy will be launched later this year, and will:
- Establish a clear and ambitious long-term vision for the steel industry, in partnership with business and workers
- Set out the actions needed to achieve that vision
- Identify gaps in current capabilities and assess future UK steel demand, helping to inform investment decisions which will support economic growth
- Set out what is needed to create a competitive business environment in the UK with the aim of attracting new private investment to expand UK steelmaking capability and capacity.
The Government will continue to work closely with the Steel Council and wider stakeholders to build on the significant positive steps we’ve taken towards the publication of the full Strategy.
July 9, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 59 – UK Statement for Iraq’s UPR Outcomes Session [July 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 July 2025.

UK Statement for Iraq’s Universal Periodic Review Outcomes Session. Delivered at the 59th session of the HRC in Geneva.

Thank you, Mr President.

We welcome the government of Iraq’s engagement with the UPR process, and their continued commitment to advancing justice and accountability for survivors of Daesh’s international crimes, following the closure of the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Daesh/ISIL (UNITAD) in September.

We are pleased to support Iraq’s efforts in building the capacity of the judiciary to investigate and prosecute cases of sexual violence, modern slavery and human trafficking. And we continue to advocate for the full and survivor-centred implementation of the Yazidi Survivors’ Law.

Mr President, the UK remains concerned by the shrinking civic and political space in Iraq which continues to restrict the freedoms of peaceful assembly and expression. We encourage the authorities to ensure that protestors, journalists, the media, and civil society are protected from interference and harassment, and that perpetrators of violence are held to account.

Likewise, minorities should be protected to freely practice their religion or belief, without fear of persecution.

The UK is closely assessing the implications of the amendment to Iraq’s Personal Status Law and will continue to stay engaged on this matter.

Thank you.

July 9, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Former health charity Chair disqualified for benefitting from almost £350k of charity funds [July 2025]
The press release issued by the Charity Commission on 3 July 2025.

The Charity Commission has concluded its inquiry into Island Health Trust.

In a report published today, the charity regulator concludes there was a significant misuse of funds at Island Health Trust, determining its spending on consultants and advisors excessive, unreasonable and disproportionate. It found former trustees failed to act in the charity’s best interests and did not operate exclusively within the charity’s purposes.

Island Health Trust was set up to promote the provision of primary healthcare, establish centres to provide healthcare within the London Boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Newham, and provide grants for health-related education and facilities.

The Commission started monitoring the charity in 2017 following concerns raised about how charity funds were being used and potential private benefit to one or more trustees. The Commission had additional concerns which led it to escalate its engagement to a formal inquiry in November 2017.

Following an extensive investigation, the Commission has disqualified the charity’s former Chair, Suzanne Goodband, from serving as a trustee. The regulatory action was taken after the inquiry found the former Chair benefitted from £349,955 over a two-year period – amounting to 60% of the charity’s income. The disqualification is in place for 7 years and only applies to being a trustee.

The Commission is also critical of a decision taken by the charity to appoint a consultant known to the former Chair who was paid a total of £105,834.88 across two financial years.

Both of these payments were made for project management services after the charity was approached by a property developer in 2014. The proposal would have involved the charity selling a long lease to the developer, potentially generating more income for the charity. However, the benefits were speculative.

After being approached, the trustees spent funds on project management services to set out a new strategic direction for the charity. The Commission found the amount spent on a project with only speculative benefits to be excessive. The eventual benefits never materialised, and the proposed new direction of the charity did not stay within the purposes it was set up to achieve.

The inquiry also found the decision to enter into a contract with a private company owned by the former Chair was not in the charity’s best interest nor were conflicts of interest sufficiently managed.

Wider findings include a lack of oversight of the former Chair by other former trustees and breaching the charity’s governing document by paying two former trustees sums of £15,913 and £8,325. Charities must ensure they follow their governing document when it comes to paying trustees. These failures were a breach of trust and amounted to misconduct and/or mismanagement.

During the inquiry, the Charity Commission appointed an interim manager to the charity to work alongside the current trustees. The interim manager was tasked with reviewing the concerns raised about the former trustees and supporting legal action by the current trustees which recovered £165,000 of charity funds.

Amy Spiller, Head of Investigations at the Charity Commission, said:

We as the regulator, and the public, rightly expect trustees to spend funds in a way that best achieves their charity’s purpose. While charities can enter into contracts with parties connected to the trustees, this should be cost effective to ensure funds ultimately help those in need, and the conflict of interest must be properly managed.

The actions by the former trustees of Island Health Trust fell short of these expectations and the excessive spending was unjustified.

I’m pleased following our intervention that funds have been recovered and a new trustee board can give the charity a fresh start.

The report, which includes the full findings, is available on GOV.UK.

ENDS

Notes to editors:
- The Charity Commission is the independent, non-ministerial government department that registers and regulates charities in England and Wales. Its ambition is to be an expert regulator that is fair, balanced, and independent so that charity can thrive. This ambition will help to create and sustain an environment where charities further build public trust and ultimately fulfil their essential role in enhancing lives and strengthening society.
- The Commission opened a statutory inquiry into the charity under s46 of the Charities Act 2011. A statutory inquiry is a legal power enabling the Commission to formally investigate matters of regulatory concern within a charity and to use protective powers for the benefit of the charity and its beneficiaries, assets, or reputation. An inquiry will investigate and establish the facts of the case so that the Commission can determine the extent of any misconduct and/or mismanagement; the extent of the risk to the charity, its work, property, beneficiaries, employees or volunteers; and decide what action is needed to resolve the concerns.
July 9, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Managing healthcare easy as online banking with revamped NHS App [July 2025]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 3 July 2025.

NHS App to become the complete digital front door to the NHS, where patients book appointments, manage medicines and view data.
- Prime Minister sets out how 10 Year Health Plan will bring NHS into 21st century to meet the needs of patients around the country
- Patients to make self-referrals through app, connect with a clinician, link-up wearable tech and gain free access to health apps
- Plan for Change will rebuild NHS and see ground-breaking single patient record finally in one place – viewable on app from 2028
Patients will be able to access a range of healthcare services and advice at the touch of a button, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has set out today, as the government’s Plan for Change drives forward fundamental reform to the NHS to make it easier and fairer for everyone to access the care they need.

Launching the 10 Year Health Plan today (3 July 2025) – the government’s roadmap to rebuild the health service to make it fit for the future – the Prime Minister set out how the app will act as a digital front door to the health service, overhauling how people get advice, manage appointments and interact with services to make their healthcare more convenient and more personalised.

For the first time, patients will be able to book, move and cancel all their appointments on the app – ending the ‘8am scramble’ for a GP – and the app will use artificial intelligence (AI) to provide instant advice for patients who need non-urgent care, available 24/7.

Through the plan, which has been published in Parliament today, patients will have quicker, better access to the right care. They will be able to self-refer on the app to mental health talking therapies, musculoskeletal services, podiatry and audiology – freeing up GPs and new neighbourhood health centres to focus on providing direct care while dramatically slashing waiting lists for these services – delivering on the government’s Plan for Change promise to cut waiting lists.

Accessing healthcare will be quicker than ever thanks to expanded features on the app. People will be able to manage their medicines and book vaccines from their phone, connect with a clinician for a remote consultation and even leave a question for a specialist to answer without making an appointment. Patients simply being able to book an appointment digitally rather than today’s convoluted process will save the NHS £200 million over 3 years.

For parents, the new app will deliver a 21st century alternative to the ‘red book’, ensuring that their children’s medical records are available to them in their pocket, so they do not have to carry their red books to every appointment. It will also provide advice and support throughout childhood, offering guidance on weaning and healthy habits. Over time, it will record feeding times, monitor sleep, and use AI analytics to understand the best way to care for children when they are unwell.

The changes will build on the progress government has already made to increase the number of hospitals allowing patients to view appointment information on the app. Almost 12 million fewer paper letters have been sent by hospitals since July 2024. Forecasts for this year show the use of in-app notifications for planned care will prevent the need for 15.7 million SMS messages.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

For far too long, the NHS has been stuck in the past, reliant on letters, lengthy phone queues and even fax machines.

But that doesn’t match the reality of our daily lives, where everything from shopping and banking to entertainment and travel can be sorted with the touch of a button from our phones.

To rebuild our NHS, we have to make sure it reflects the society it serves. That’s why our 10 Year Health Plan will bring it into the digital age by opening up fairer and more convenient access to healthcare. Through our new app – a digital front door for your care – parents will be able to keep track of their children’s health through an online ‘red book’ fit for the 21st century, and we will put a stop to patients having to endlessly repeat their medical history thanks to a single patient record.

Our Plan for Change promised to make our NHS fit for the future and that’s what we are getting on with delivering – fixing the foundations of our health service and making sure it will be there to look after us for decades to come.

This is one major arm of the technological innovation at the heart of the 10 Year Health Plan launched today, which also includes introducing the single patient record, rolling out AI scribes to take notes for clinicians, using generative AI to create the first draft of care plans, and introducing single sign-on for NHS software.

The government’s 10 Year Health Plan sets out the fundamental reforms we will deliver to address the challenges facing the health service in the face of inherited underinvestment and neglect and the evolving needs of a modern society.

Speaking at the launch of the plan today, the PM set out how the plan will deliver 3 key shifts to make the NHS fit for the future:
- hospital to community
- analogue to digital
- sickness to prevention
Through fundamental reforms to rewire the NHS around these shifts, the plan will deliver the government’s pledge to cut waiting lists, improve healthcare for everyone wherever they live, and ensure the NHS is equipped to look after us for decades to come.

This historic transformation will fundamentally change the future of healthcare and it will be underpinned by a new single patient record. This will finally bring together all of a patient’s medical records into one place, so patients do not have to repeat their medical history to each clinician they see. The single patient record will make sure patients get seamless care no matter who they are being treated by in the NHS.

Two-thirds of outpatient appointments – which currently cost in total £14 billion a year – will be replaced by automated information, digital advice, direct input from specialists and patient-initiated follow-ups through the NHS App.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

The NHS App will become a ‘doctor in your pocket’, bringing our health service into the 21st century.

Patients who can afford to pay for private healthcare can get instant advice, remote consultations with a doctor, and choose where and when their appointments will be. Our reforms will bring those services to every patient, regardless of their ability to pay.

The 10 Year Health Plan will keep every patient fully informed of their healthcare and make using the NHS as easy and convenient as doing your banking or shopping online. It will deliver a fundamental shift in the way people access their care – from analogue to digital.

A new single patient record will bring an end to the frustration of repeating your medical history to different doctors. Instead, health and care professionals will have your record in one handy place, so they can give you the best possible care.

Through our Plan for Change, this government is shifting care to digital and delivering an NHS which is truly fit for the future.

The government will make the single patient record possible through new legislation that places a duty on every health and care provider to make the information they record about a patient available in the single patient record.

We will also legislate to give patients access to their record by default. From 2028, patients will be able to view it securely on the NHS App. Over time, that data will include not only medical records, but a personalised account of health risk, drawing from lifestyle, demographic and genomic data – helping catch problems early before they develop, and prevent people from poor health.

The single patient record is designed as Critical National Infrastructure. This means it will be built and maintained to meet the highest levels of security, equivalent to those used for the UK’s most vital systems, such as energy and transport networks. Health and care professionals treating and caring for a patient will have secure access to their record – patients can control who else they share it with and will have a robust audit trail of who has accessed their record.

Sir Jim Mackey, Chief Executive at NHS England, said:

The NHS App will be at the heart of the tech transformation we’re planning for the NHS to give people much more ownership of their healthcare – all from wherever they are at the tap of a screen.

Millions of us already have the app downloaded on our phones and the improvements we’re introducing as part of the 10 Year Health Plan, from booking appointments and speaking to clinicians online to seeing all your medical records in one place, will make the NHS App the digital front door to the NHS.

A My Health tool will include real-time data from wearables, biometric sensors or smart devices and will connect to relevant NHS data too – whether that is the results of recent tests at home or in a neighbourhood health centre. Wearables will be able to feed vital data into the app such as step count, heart rate and sleep quality, to provide tailored, personal health advice. The single patient record will have robust security controls.

And a new My NHS GP tool will harness AI to direct people to the most appropriate and timely care they need. In some cases, it will advise on self-care – and help direct patients to well-evidenced consumer healthcare products. In others, it might direct to a community pharmacy, a neighbourhood health centre or to emergency care.

Over the course of the plan, the features set to be developed through the NHS App will include:
- My NHS GP – book a remote or face-to-face appointment and receive personalised health advice using a new AI tool
- My Specialist – self-refer when clinically appropriate and leave a question for a specialist to answer
- My Consult – connect with a clinician for a remote consultation
- My Medicines – manage repeat prescriptions for delivery or collection and receive reminders
- My Care – book and manage appointments, enrol in a clinical trial and access the single patient record
- My Companion – get information about a health condition or procedure and ask AI or a clinician a question
- My Choices – find the nearest pharmacy, the best providers and leave feedback on services
- My Vaccines – see when vaccines are up to date and book appointments to get them organised, and find travel vaccine information
- My Health – bring data like blood pressure, heart rate and glucose levels together, and include real-time data from wearables or smart devices
- My Children – a digitised ‘red book’, where parents can get advice and support for parents throughout childhood
- My Carer – securely prove you are a carer, book appointments and talk to your loved one’s care team
Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, said:

It’s clear that technology is set to transform many aspects of our lives for the better over the next decade, including the delivery of healthcare and how we interact with the NHS.

The potential of the NHS App, for example, is truly exciting, but we must also ensure that no one is left behind, including the many millions of older people who are not online and who often want and need to use more traditional means of communication, such as telephone and face to face.

The government’s commitment to a digitally inclusive approach is really important in building public trust. It is also essential for the NHS’s promise of being equally accessible to continue to hold true in our increasingly digital world. The voluntary sector can certainly help by supporting people who are not digital natives and at Age UK we look forward to playing our part in this way.

Julian David, CEO of techUK, said:

We welcome today’s announcement as a landmark moment in the digital transformation of the NHS. The enhanced NHS App marks a bold step forward in putting citizens at the centre of their care, empowering patients with the same ease, accessibility and control we expect from modern digital services.

Ongoing and meaningful engagement with the tech sector will be essential to delivering this transformation at scale. techUK will continue to work with government, NHS bodies and our members to ensure this transformation is inclusive, secure and future-ready.

Boosting the app will not only benefit those managing their healthcare digitally but will also free up capacity in traditional healthcare routes and provide more access to care and appointments – freeing up phone lines so calls are answered on time and freeing up GPs’ capacity to offer face-to-face appointments.

The government will aim to empower and upskill everyone to feel confident using the NHS App so that they can benefit from the additional access to services and the greater convenience the app will bring.

The government will continue a partnership with libraries and other community organisations to set people up on the app, with ‘show and tells’ to teach them how to use it and reap the benefits – this will be alongside ongoing work across government to improve access to technology and boost confidence among groups that have previously struggled.

Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said:

The foundations for a healthy life are laid in childhood, so an ambition of creating the healthiest generation of children yet is an important step towards tackling the deep inequalities in their healthcare.

I have long called for a child’s ‘red book’ to be digitised, so this is a really welcome move. Taken with plans currently going through Parliament to develop a unique childhood identifier, will vastly improve how we protect and care for the most vulnerable children, with fewer in danger of falling through gaps in services.

Children tell me that when they need additional support, they want it in one place, so creating neighbourhood services that bring different professionals under one roof will make a practical difference in their lives, as will increasing access to GPs and dentists.

Andrew Davies, Executive Director of Digital Health, Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI), said:

This transformation of the NHS App is an important milestone for healthcare delivery. A single, secure platform to access a range of services, digital tools and therapeutics, and connect devices, will enable patients to more effectively engage with their care.

This plan showcases how HealthTech can drive a more efficient, personalised and accessible NHS, which in turn will free up time for clinicians to focus on care where it is needed most. Our members look forward to working with the NHS and government to ensure these digital tools are implemented successfully and deliver meaningful benefits for patients across the country.

Rachel Power, Chief Executive of the Patients Association, said:

We welcome the government’s ambition to expand the NHS App as a central part of the 10 Year Health Plan. It could deliver the fundamental change patients have asked for in their interactions with the NHS, including the ability to manage their appointments, self-refer to vital services and, in 3 years’ time, be able to view their health records through the single patient record.

Our work with patients shows that those using the app often feel more in control and more satisfied with their care. But with nearly 1 in 4 still facing barriers to digital access, we must ensure that innovation doesn’t come at the cost of inclusion. If the NHS App is to become the digital front door, there must always be a real-world, accessible front door as well, with face-to-face or telephone options in place for those who need or want them. True progress means making the system work for everyone.

Professor Habib Naqvi, Chief Executive of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, said:

We need a more focused and systematic approach to tackling health inequalities and addressing unacceptable variation in healthcare amongst our communities. A key enabler for this endeavour is digital tools. The transformation of the NHS App has the potential to lead to a more efficient, agile and technologically enabled NHS – an NHS that will deliver care quicker and closer to where people live. The app will empower people and transform the way the public receives healthcare and engages with NHS services. The Observatory will help ensure this shift, in the way healthcare is provided, benefits all communities equitable.

Jacob Lant, Chief Executive of National Voices, said:

Technology is moving at a blistering pace and, quite simply, the NHS has failed to keep up. So the increased emphasis on the app and other digital services is welcome, especially where it can help the NHS meet expectations that have become commonplace in other sectors.

Critically, the plan recognises there will always be patients with more complex needs and commits to using the resource freed up by digital innovations to continue offering more traditional forms of access to those who need it.

Richard Stubbs, Chair of the Health Innovation Network, said:

It is right that the 10 Year Health Plan will establish the digital and data foundations of the NHS to realise the potential of health innovation in empowering patients, better supporting the NHS workforce and driving economic growth in every community.

The Health Innovation welcomes the focus on AI, expansion of the NHS App and the commitment to a single patient record, all of which will involve innovation partnerships to deliver change to local services, that will have a national impact.

The 15 health innovation networks across England look ahead to operationalising these plans and working with our partners to find, test and implement at scale innovations that improve patient outcomes, increase NHS productivity and reduce waiting lists, while delivering economic growth. If we get this right we will not only greatly increase outcomes and satisfaction for our patients, but we will also boost our essential life sciences sector and, as our Defining the Size of the Health Innovation Prize report found, add up to £278 billion a year to the UK economy.
July 9, 2025