There definitely isn't an easy fix for the NHS. Frankly, healthcare as a whole across the world will probably need a significant rethink as our populations become older and more multi-morbid, people live longer and treatments become better at keeping people alive (and more expensive).
In terms of spit balling ideas though:
-The easiest one is more resources of course. Yes its a 'money sink'. But it is indisputable that the UK is below the average for doctors, nurses and beds per 100,000 population for OECD countries. That leads to a system that is constantly stretched, constantly just about surviving, constantly making do rather than actually trying to provide high quality care. That means for funding, updating infrastructure, paying staff appropriately so you actually attract and retain good, happy people.
-Improvements in social care. A significant part of the pressure comes from not being able to discharge some patients, some for a long time, because of failures in the social care system. At best, its waiting for equipment to be delivered or for for a care package to be implemented. At worst, its waiting because someone's family has decided to go on holiday and don't want to come back early to take their relative back or a homeless person. Hospitals should be primarily for sorting out acute medical issues, not social issues. This should also include an increase in pay and standing of care workers.
-I think outlining how much things cost to patients when they're sent for an appointment or scans may be helpful to reduce non-attendance (which is ridiculous).
-Increased focus on preventative care (particularly with obesity and alcohol) and improved health literacy of the population. The social determinants of health and the inequities we see across the country are shocking.
-Incentives for innovation and changes. I'll be honest and say I don't really know how to do this. Currently, you could be an amazing consultant, average or shocking (or nurse) and you will get paid essentially the same. Beyond pride, there is little incentive to poke your head above the parapet and do things differently and that needs to change. In some areas of the country, entire regions are joining together. Which is good for some things but means changes often have to happen on a regional level, which can be glacial.
-I'll go slightly against the grain and say we actually probably need more managers, not less. But with the proviso that we encourage more clinical managers too. We actually have less managers than, again, most of our OECD peers.
-I'm nowhere near as against the idea of European/ Australasian style private insurance existing alongside the public health system.