Navigating NHS policy upheaval: why advisory boards matter right now

NHS advisory boards can help organisations navigate change in the NHS

It’s fair to say the NHS is constantly in flux, but we are looking at going into a significant period of transformation with the shifts outlined in the NHS 10 Year Health Plan towards neighbourhood health, the acceleration of digital-first services, deep structural reforms to commissioning, and tighter financial discipline. The landscape is changing at speed. NHS England will be dismantled over the next 18 months. We have summarised the operational guidance that has been published and what’s coming up here. For organisations that want to work with or influence the NHS over the next year, this creates both opportunity and complexity.

In this environment, for organisations who work with the NHS, the right advisory board has become not just useful, but essential, to navigate and thrive in a changing NHS system.

What does an advisory board do?

An advisory board is a group of independent experts who provide insight, challenge, and direction to help an organisation make smarter, more credible decisions. It is not a formal governance body, and it does not replace leadership; instead, it acts as a sounding board and strategic compass. A good advisory board is carefully designed to work to your challenges. Handpicked membership may include clinical leaders, former NHS executives, ex-policymakers and patient reps. Together, they help an organisation see around corners, avoid missteps, and better align with the realities of the health and care system.

Why have an advisory board now?

The NHS is undergoing a restructure and programme of change on a scale not seen since 2012, when one NHS leader said the overhaul was so big it was visible from space. NHS England is being scrapped, the roles of the different parts of the system is changing, leadership is focused on managing elective recovery and the rising demand, new neighbourhood-based delivery models, new fiscal realities, and an ambitious digital and prevention agenda. At the same time, national policy continues to evolve and restructure incentives, for example the new Integrated Health Organisation programme. For organisations outside the NHS, this means the rules of engagement are changing, sometimes rapidly. In this context, advisory boards give organisations three critical advantages: foresight, credibility, and clarity.

1. Foresight on policy and system change

Early insight into how reforms are likely to land on the ground. Whether it is changes to commissioning flows, the impact of new models of care, digital pathway redesign, or shifts in workforce strategy, advisors help organisations understand what matters, what is noise, and what will genuinely affect adoption. This foresight enables smarter investment decisions and more resilient planning.

2. Credibility with NHS leaders

NHS stakeholders are bombarded with offers, pilots and solutions. What cuts through is evidence, lived experience, and trusted voices. Advisory boards lend organisations legitimacy by ensuring their propositions are grounded in genuine need, aligned with national priorities, and supported by people who understand NHS culture, constraints, and opportunities. They help develop your communications strategy, refine the narrative and sharpen the evidence needed to build confidence.

3. Clarity on commercial strategy

Selling to or partnering with the NHS isn’t just about having a good product. It’s about understanding routes to adoption, evaluation requirements, integrated pathways, and service redesign. Advisory boards stress-test assumptions, expose gaps, and help organisations adapt their model to fit how the NHS really works - not how they hope it works.

What is your differentiator in a crowded market?

With many organisations competing for attention, those that understand the system best will move fastest. Advisory boards give organisations a deeper, more nuanced view of the NHS, acting as a critical friend, a trusted advisor sharing insight, opening doors and stress-testing plans.

Why are advisory boards a strategic investment for 2025 and beyond?

For organisations serious about working with the NHS advisory boards are no longer a nice-to-have. They are a strategic asset: a way to de-risk decisions, accelerate adoption, and build the relationships that matter. In a period of reform and opportunity, the organisations that invest in insight will be the ones that shape the future, not just respond to it.

ZPB Associates has recruited and run advisory boards for many clients, including for the leadership team of a large pharmaceutical company, for several HealthTech clients including this digital healthcare provider, and for providers of services to the NHS. Get in touch to talk about creating an advisory board for your organisation.