Modernising the curricula to realise the NHS 10 Year Health Plan for England

Exploring the curricula being delivered across the NHS priorities in English pre-registration programmes
Medical student writing in a notebook

Modernising the curricula to realise the NHS 10 Year Health Plan for England

Exploring the curricula being delivered across the NHS priorities in English pre-registration programmes
Title: Modernising the curricula to realise the NHS 10 Year Health Plan for England
Funded by: ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ in partnership with
Funding amount: £120,000
Location: ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ
Dates: October 2025 ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ“ October 2026
ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ PI: Dr John Downey 
 

Overview

Due to increasing pressures, including an ageing population, overwhelmed health service, and workforce shortages, immediate changes are needed to meet the needs of society. The made bold commitments to transformation, including shifts from hospital to community, sickness to prevention, and analogue to digital. These commitments have ramifications for how educators train the healthcare professionals of the future. 
Achieving these NHS 'shifts' will be contingent on a modernised workforce who will be responsible for translating strategy into routine practice. Despite this, there are limited professional guidance and stipulations concerning the NHS priorities, and little is known about what level of education is offered, the format of provisions, and the challenges encountered by educators when integrating the NHS 'shifts' into curricula.

To deliver the NHS Long Term Health Plan, we need a workforce that is prepared for the future of healthcare. This project is about understanding how education can evolve to equip healthcare professionals with the skills needed for a rapidly changing system.

John DowneyDr John Downey
Lecturer in Digital Health

Objectives

The aim of the research is to explore what curricula are being delivered, across the NHS priorities, in English pre-registration programmes.
This research project comprises three connected phases:
  • A review of professional competency frameworks/standards to consolidate essential learning domains relevant to the three shifts in healthcare curricula.
  • A descriptive analysis of current practice in the pre-registration curricula through surveys, interviews and observations, along with identifying organisational enablers and barriers to education delivery.
  • A series of case study evaluations of innovative education delivery specifically relating to the three shifts.
Nursing staff working at reception

Context of the issue

The NHS is undergoing significant transformation to address increasing demand, workforce challenges and changing patient needs. However, there is currently limited understanding of how these priorities are reflected within healthcare education programmes.

How the project addresses the issue

This project brings together educators and researchers to map current curriculum provision, identify barriers and enablers, and highlight examples of innovative practice. It will provide evidence to support future curriculum development aligned with NHS priorities.
 
 
 

Centre for Health Technology

Bringing together digital health and health technology expertise from across the University to drive the development, evaluation and implementation of innovative technologies, products, services and approaches to transform health and social care.
 
Centre for Health Technology