Are your financial pressures restricting improvements in patient care?

Poll identifies top financial challenges for NHS stakeholders

Technological advancements help drive improved patient outcomes, but in today’s NHS, financial constraints and operational challenges often create a divide between clinical ambition and reality.

To understand what is preventing or delaying implementation of innovative medical technologies, we conducted a poll asking NHS financial stakeholders to identify their top financial challenges. Here’s what they told us:

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Data based on responses from 41 NHS financial decision-makers (survey conducted by Ergéa Group in June-July 2025).

The four key issues

These four issues consistently emerged as the most urgent priorities for NHS finance leaders in 2025. Addressing them will be critical to building sustainable services.

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Staffing Pressures

Workforce costs including recruitment, retention and agency spend is the top challenge. These pressures are compounded by outdated technology, aging infrastructure, and demanding working environments which affect morale, retention, and productivity
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Cost Improvement Programmed (CIP)
NHS leaders are under increasing pressure to achieve at least 2.2% CIP savings, yet limited capital investment and other challenges make meeting these targets increasingly difficult
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Capital and funding constraints
Changes in government administration have created uncertainty around budget allocations and already limited capital funding, delaying investment in facilities and equipment
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Rising costs
and payments
Tight budgets, inflationary pressures and rising costs for programmes, maintenance, sustainability, and broader priorities such as organisational culture are putting systems under strain

How our flexible Managed Service solutions can help

At Ergéa UK, we work alongside NHS Trusts to tackle these challenges, combining clinical insight, technological expertise, a vendor-neutral approach, and strong buying power to deliver solutions that create clinical, financial, and operational value.

Reducing staffing pressures

We can help alleviate workforce cost pressures and improve staff retention by:

  • Managing processes for equipment procurement, installations and maintenance to free up clinical and administrative time
  • Reducing the existing workload with AI-enabled technologies
  • Delivering advanced technologies which engage clinical staff, support professional development, and help to attract and retain talent.
Accelerating Cost Improvement Programmes (CIP)

We offer clear long-term agreements and performance guarantees which can:

  • Support CIP targets by identifying cost-savings, streamlining procurement, and reducing admin - freeing up resources for patient care
  • Reduce unplanned expenditure and improve budget control through fixed-cost models and asset management
  • Leverage strong buying power to secure cost-effective solutions and deliver greater value.
  • Unlock operational savings through lifecycle planning, technology upgrades, and optimised maintenance
Addressing capital and funding constraints

We offer a self-funded model providing financial flexibility which enables:

  • Access to the latest equipment without upfront capital outlay preserving cash reserves for other priorities
  • Funding arrangements that spread costs over time and align payments with service delivery
  • Breadth of services including enabling works, infrastructure upgrades, and technology refresh programmes under a single managed agreement
Managing rising costs and inflationary pressures

Our approach ensures:

  • Predictable, fixed costs that protect against price volatility
  • Economies of scale through strong supplier relationships and consolidated procurement
  • The ability to reinvest savings into innovation, service improvement and workforce support