Canon Medical, Equinix & Philips React to Autumn Budget

In its Autumn Budget, the UK’s Labour party released by Chancellor Rachel Reeves will aim to uphold public finances and ensure economic stability for all. Healthcare leaders from Browne Jacobson, BHTA, Curam & NICE International have already responded to the budget.

Here’s how spokespeople from Canon Medical Systems, Equinix and Philips have reacted to the news.

Canon Medical Systems UK MD welcomes NHS investment

Mark Hitchman, Managing Director at Canon Medical Systems UK, said that the Autumn Budget confirmed that £1.5bn will be invested in new beds across the country, along with more capacity for over a million additional diagnostic tests, surgical hubs and diagnostic centres.

“As part of the Government’s ten-year plan to rebuild the NHS, this is very welcome news indeed. However, to achieve an increased scanning capacity, this investment must address the replacement of outdated equipment. Without sufficient staff and space, even doubling the number of scanners will be ineffective.”

He sees the increased funding for Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) as fundamental, as the centres provide accessible, local care, easing the load on hospitals by offering tests and diagnostics closer to patients. 

“With over 165 CDCs operating in places like shopping centres and sports venues, they have already delivered more than nine million tests - demonstrating their value in reducing hospital pressures and providing timely care,” he shared.

“The workforce shortage, however, remains a pressing issue and bolstering this must be addressed. Radiography and other diagnostics face limited training opportunities, making roles highly competitive. Investing in advanced, AI-assisted technology can help improve efficiency, but the full benefits will only be realised with a strong, trained workforce,” Mark added.

For the NHS to thrive, Mark said that sustained investment in modern equipment is needed, as well as community-based care and training expansions to meet healthcare demands and deliver better patient outcomes.

Equinix supports UK Government's digital transformation 

The UK government plans to drive efficiencies across healthcare, tax and welfare systems through leveraging digital tools and secure, scalable infrastructure. This approach promises improved access and quality of service for citizens, particularly in rural areas.

“Equinix is uniquely equipped to support this vision by delivering resilient, secure and sustainable digital infrastructure to underpin the UK’s growth initiatives,” said Bruce Owen, Interim President, EMEA of Equinix. “Our interconnection solutions provide the data-sharing backbone that R&D, technology and life sciences need to thrive, connecting enterprises, startups and research institutions in vibrant digital ecosystems across the UK.

“From NHS digital transformation to HMRC compliance enhancements, our hybrid and multi-cloud capabilities offer secure, scalable support for the government’s drive to make public services more efficient and accessible, including extending connectivity to rural areas.”

Philips' Mark Leftwich highlights Chancellor's investment in NHS technology as a bright step forward

Mark Leftwich, Managing Director, Philips UK & Ireland shared that the chancellor’s decision to increase capital investment in technology to deliver more NHS operations, scans and appointments shows early promise.  

“Patients are stuck on waitlists, staff are facing burnout and  three quarters of NHS teams have faced a lack of investment in medical equipment and technological solutions. This funding is a chance to start pulling the NHS back on track. 

 “State-of-the-art technology is changing the way that care is delivered in pockets, but increased investment in digital and innovation is needed to accelerate this at scale. Primarily, we want to see this increase in capital investment come to life across facilities, infrastructure and innovation.”

Mark calls for focus on digitising NHS services, bringing the single patient records to life, and shifting care from hospitals to home.

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