A nationwide poll of NHS leadership shows increasing public support for preventive care, yet highlights a growing divide between the demand for such services and the system’s capacity to provide them.

LONDON, Feb. 6, 2026 — Per a recent study by PA Consulting, increased government funding and broad agreement among NHS executives have brought the UK nearer to a digital-first, prevention-oriented healthcare model—where devices like smartwatches and mobile health applications assist the NHS in disease prevention via lifestyle modifications, clinical measures, and wellness programs. However, the underlying infrastructure needed to implement technology-driven prevention broadly is still inadequate.

Citizen participation in preventive health is surging: 33.6 million individuals now use the NHS App—twice as many as UK Netflix subscribers—indicating a significant move toward proactive health oversight. Yet the healthcare system hasn’t kept pace. None of the surveyed healthcare executives (0%) reported feeling adequately backed by national organizations to expand successful local innovations, ranging from applications to community outreach initiatives, while 12% observed no advantages from digital solutions.

Key findings from PA Consulting’s report:

• Eighty percent of healthcare executives think digital technologies—from basic smartphone apps to sophisticated AI-driven diagnostic and risk-assessment tools—could significantly diminish health disparities, especially among vulnerable groups.
• Seventy percent of executives view home-based diagnostic and screening tools—like self-administered bowel cancer tests—as the most promising digital prevention strategy for the coming ten years.
• Sixty-four percent of executives identify co-designing digital health programs with local communities, via voluntary organizations and user advocacy groups, as the key element for sustaining public confidence.
• Seventy-seven percent urge national agencies to provide multi-year, dedicated funding streams to bolster local digital prevention efforts.
• The primary facilitators for integrating digital prevention instruments within the next two years are unified patient records (cited by 62%) and enhanced data integration capacities (64%).
• Eighty percent of executives express readiness to deploy digital products and services focused on disease prevention for their workforce (82%) and local populations (80%).

James Davis, healthcare expert at PA Consulting, says: “The 10-Year Health Plan demonstrates strong commitment to advancing digital prevention. What’s missing is an actionable, adaptable implementation framework. By prioritizing key domains—home-based diagnostics and screening, AI-powered risk forecasting, and multi-cancer early detection—regional teams can achieve visible victories that engage both citizens and decision-makers, generating impetus for nationwide expansion.

“Digital prevention isn’t merely about adding more applications or gadgets. It involves establishing novel operational frameworks built on integration and adaptability. Through coherent policy and continuous funding, we can transform digital prevention from a slogan into the cornerstone of a robust, forward-looking healthcare system that prioritizes prevention over treatment.”

How to accelerate digitally-powered prevention across the NHS

• Prioritize quick victories. Regional teams should leverage current data to pinpoint high-yield opportunities, weave digital tools into care pathways without increasing staff workload, and broadly publicize achievements to generate momentum. Central teams can then magnify these successes to enhance public faith and political backing for additional funding.
• Convert pilot programs into nationwide advancement. Standardized interoperability protocols will hasten innovation and unify central and regional efforts. National organizations can supply the digital backbone—including a vetted repository of prevention resources—to facilitate scaling digital prevention.
• Secure enduring outcomes. Sustained achievement requires integrating digital prevention into regionally-tailored policies and embracing multi-year financing models that ensure stability. It also demands fresh assessment frameworks that capture subtle effects and acknowledge wider long-term advantages.

Methodology

PA Consulting performed comprehensive quantitative and qualitative analysis with senior executives and decision-makers throughout the national healthcare system and NHS. The research spanned Q4 2025 and Q1 2026. Report findings draw from survey responses, firsthand interview perspectives, and the firm’s extensive collaboration with NHS Trusts, Integrated Care Boards, and national entities throughout England.

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