Advancing inward investment into the UK health sector

The NHS has long been celebrated as a symbol of excellence and compassion.

Today it faces mounting pressures, growing patient demand, limited resources, and workforce challenges. Meanwhile, the global healthcare landscape continues to evolve, presenting opportunities for the NHS to form meaningful partnerships to improve services, move from sickness to prevention (one of the key pillars of the Government’s ‘Road to Recovery’ strategy) and integrate innovation into the health system, if it has the capacity to seize these. By leveraging its global reputation, infrastructure, and expertise, the NHS can attract investment to secure its long-term sustainability.

Inward investment must be approached with care and responsibility. It is about more than funding; it is about building collaborations that enhance services, benefit patients and the workforce, and strengthen the NHS to ensure it is ‘fit for the future’. It is about creating value for the public while ensuring that the NHS remains true to its founding principles. This vision aligns with recent national policy, including the NHS 10 Year Plan and the Life Sciences Sector Plan, both of which position the UK as a global hub for health innovation. By welcoming investment in research, infrastructure, digital health, and clinical trials, these strategies signal a commitment to embedding innovation within the NHS while safeguarding its founding principles and long-term sustainability.

Browne Jacobson and Healthcare World have collaborated to produce this report, Advancing inward investment into the UK health sector, which sheds light on the unique opportunities presented by the NHS to attract inward investment. It also highlights key barriers, such as regulatory complexity and fragmented procurement, which must be overcome to fully realise these opportunities.   

It offers a timely opportunity to reassess and embrace the potential of inward investment for the NHS. The recommendations provide a practical roadmap for increasing inward investment into the UK healthcare sector in a mutually beneficial way. Encouraging these partnerships will not only address the NHS’ immediate needs but also lay the foundations for long-term growth and sustainability.

View flip book (Healthcare World)

Healthcare World

Healthcare World is a business development consultancy that supports its customers and partners with their global expansion vision. The company’s mission is to provide opportunities for its partners to meet the right individuals across the global health economies. It puts together full programmes for delegates all over the world with networking events, receptions, intelligence reports and introductions across the local health economies that they are interested in working in.

It also produces the world’s leading magazine for international healthcare, with a distribution of more than 500,000 copies worldwide every year through the largest healthcare events including Arab Health, Africa Health, HIMSS and Global Health. The Healthcare World Series are regular virtual discussions and panel debates hosted through the Healthcare World website where discussions cover the latest topics in healthcare, attracting 3,000-5,000 viewers to every session.

Authors

Gerard Hanratty, Head of Health and Life Sciences, Browne Jacobson

Carly Caton, Partner in the Commercial and Contracting Healthcare Team, Browne Jacobson

Clare Auty, Head of Independent Health and Social Care, Browne Jacobson

Jan Cumming, Legal Director, Browne Jacobson

Ritu Chopra, Chief Operating Officer, Healthcare World

Emma Sheldon MBE, CEO, Healthcare World

Steve Gardner, Managing Director, Healthcare World

Sofia Bogdaneris, Research Lead, Healthcare World

Corinna Bull, Healthcare Policy Consultant, Healthcare World

Editorial team

Sarah Cartledge, Editorial Director, Healthcare World

Joe Everley, Art Director, Healthcare World

Contributors

Ged Byrne MBE, Director Global Health, NHS England

Jacqui Rock, Formerly Chief Commercial Officer, NHS England

Stephen Childs, Formerly Commercial Director, NHS England Commercial Directorate

Jonathan Devereux, Head of International Policy, NHS Confederation

Natalie Bain, Head of Healthcare UK, Department of Business and Trade (DBT)

Mark Oakes, Head of Life Sciences, Department for Business and Trade

Louise Stock, Healthcare and Life Science & Bio Economy Sector Specialist, DBT, Midlands Region

Dace Dimza-Jones, National Life Sciences Inward Investment Specialist, Department of Business and Trade

Helen Featherstone, Director and General Manager, General Medical Council International

Tom Elliott, Chief Executive, Medilink

Methven Forbes, CEO, Fuller & Forbes Healthcare Group

Nick Dobrzelecki, CEO and Co-Founder, The Learnery

Jyoti Mehan, CEO, Health Care First Partnership

Ian Chambers, CEO, Linea

Vincent Sai, CEO, Modality