Supporting the Three Shifts: The Role of Advanced Practice in Building a Future-Ready NHS
The Government Road to recovery Mandate (2025) and Lard Darzi’s Report (2024) has set out how to create a truly modern health service. It is designed to meet the changing needs of our changing population. This will be focused on the three shifts that the government, health service, and experts agree need to happen. These include:
- Moving care from hospitals to communities
- Making better use of technology
- Focussing on preventing sickness, not just treating it.
The Three Shifts
An NHS Fit for the Future
1. Moving Care from Hospitals to Communities
Advanced Practitioners (APs) are leading the shift towards community-based care. By working in primary care networks, urgent treatment centres, and community trusts, APs reduce the burden on acute services while improving continuity of care. Their ability to assess, diagnose, and manage patients independently allows for early intervention and proactive management closer to home.
2. Making Better Use of Technology
APs are embracing digital tools to enhance patient care — from using telehealth for remote consultations to incorporating AI-supported diagnostics and digital monitoring into clinical practice. Their dual expertise in clinical decision-making and innovation makes them key drivers in embedding technology into safe, effective workflows.
3. Focusing on Preventing Sickness
Advanced Practitioners support proactive, preventative care through personalised health education, early detection, and long-term condition management. Their person-centred approach improves patient empowerment and addresses health inequalities — contributing to a future where care focuses not just on treatment, but on keeping people well.