NHS.UK roadmap

Objectives for NHS.UK in 2024/25 are:

Run and maintain our existing live service, for example by:

• regularly reviewing health advice and guidance content (text, video and images) to ensure it is clinically accurate 

• updating and managing data about local health services 

Improve our existing live service, for example by:

• transforming health advice and guidance 

• improving navigation across key user journeys

Make our live service more efficient, for example by:

• reducing the complexity of our core technologies to speed up future delivery
• retiring content that no longer meets service proposition

Support initiatives where nhs.uk is a key channel, for example by:

• improving pharmacy service-finding, providing a robust user-centred evidence base for 'Pharmacy First' (and related) services

• increasing uptake of Talking therapies self-serve, helping people to access the help they need earlier, reducing presentations to acute and crisis services

The NHS website is made up of several different groups of products. Each group has its own objectives for 2024/25.

The following sections describe our current plans for each group of products and will include: 

• what has been delivered recently (last Quarter)
• what we’re working on now (current Quarter)
• what we plan to work on next (next Quarter and beyond)

This is not an exhaustive list of everything we intend to do in 2024/25 and this page will be updated throughout the year.

These products, including the Health A-Z, Medicines A-Z and Live Well parts of the website, give users the information and advice they need to understand their health, and guidance on next steps they should take. 

The objectives for this group of products are: 

1. maintain all existing health advice and guidance. 
2. improve key areas of existing health advice and guidance.
3. retire content that no longer meets our service proposition.
4. support wider initiatives where nhs.uk is a key channel.

This group of products helps users to find, choose and interact with local NHS services. It includes service finders, NHS Profile Manager, contact us, Find your NHS number, catchment APIs, and ratings and reviews. 

The objectives for this group of products are:

1. Give users more relevant information about NHS services they can use. 
2. Signpost users directly into digital and transactional journeys beyond nhs.uk. 
3. Improve data quality for nhs.uk and partners. 
4. Optimise website operations for efficiency.

This group of products affect all or large portions of nhs.uk, including how we publish content, how we gather feedback from users and how users navigate. It includes our content management system, feedback mechanisms, navigation patterns and internal search. In addition, it includes self-assessment tools and the APIs and widgets in the NHS website developer portal.

The objectives for this group of products are: 

1. reduce the complexity of core nhs.uk technologies, for example content management system, header and footer and banners to make future delivery more efficient.
2. improve navigation on key user journeys. 
3. improve how we collect user feedback to support future user research.
4. complete planned work on tools and transfer responsibility for these to business-as-usual operations.
5. reuse components of the self-assessment tools into other digital health journeys aligned to the mobile first strategy. 
6. migrate NHS website syndication APIs to the API Management Portal.

These are the specific things our teams are working on: 

This group of products includes public health campaign websites such as Better Health, Every Mind Matters, Start for Life, Healthier Families, Campaign Resource Centre and School Zone. 

The objectives for this group of products are: 

• run and maintain 4 websites to support the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities' (OHID's) key behavioural change objectives and campaigns run by their marketing teams. 
• run and maintain 2 business-to-business websites to distribute marketing materials on behalf of OHID’s partnerships team. 
• provide sub-clinical support, advice and tools for users that align with health advice and guidance on nhs.uk. 

These are the specific things our teams are working on: 

The team focuses on delivering inclusive, accessible and clinically assured multimedia content that supports NHS priorities. It also helps to improve public health knowledge and increase access to health information through video, photography, illustration, animation, and sign language. Channels we use include the NHS website and YouTube.

The objectives for this group of products are to:

1. Create impactful and trusted multimedia content that communicates health information effectively. Ensure content communicates NHS priorities, whilst meeting user needs.

2. Enhance accessibility and inclusion, ensuring all content meets or exceeds WCAG AA standards including video player improvements, captioning, transcripts, and alternative formats.

3. Use analytics to refine content strategies based on user needs and engagement.

4. Build efficient workflows and foster cross-team collaboration for timely, cohesive multimedia content.

To discuss and provide input to our strategy and roadmap, contact us.