The Government aims to start the ‘biggest national conversation about the future of the NHS’ as the whole country is called upon to share their experiences of our health service and help shape the government’s 10 Year Health Plan. The closing date to submit responses is Monday 2 December 5pm.
Members of the public, as well as NHS staff and experts will be invited to share their experiences views and ideas for fixing the NHS. The government’s 10 Year Health Plan will be published in spring 2025 and will be underlined by three big shifts in healthcare – hospital to community, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention.
Hospital to community
The Government wants to deliver plans for new neighbourhood health centres, which will be closer to homes and communities. Patients will be able to see family doctors, district nurses, care workers, physiotherapists, health visitors, or mental health specialists, all under the same roof.
Analogue to digital
The Government will create a more modern NHS by bringing together a single patient record, summarising patient health information, test results, and letters in one place, through the NHS App. It will put patients in control of their own medical history, meaning they don’t have to repeat it at every appointment, and that staff have the full picture of patients’ health. New laws are set to be introduced to make NHS patient health records available across all NHS trusts, GP surgeries and ambulance services in England – speeding up patient care, reducing repeat medical tests, and minimising medication errors.
Sickness to prevention
The Government wants to shorten the amount of time people spend in-ill health and prevent illnesses before they happen. As an example, the 10 Year Health Plan will explore the opportunities smart watches and other wearable tech may offer patients with diabetes or high blood pressure, so they can monitor their own health from the comfort of their own home.
Patients are being asked to take part in the biggest ever conversation about the future of the NHS. They are asking for members of the public to speak about their experiences in the NHS and how it needs to change. Organisations are also being asked to give their views as it’s an early opportunity to share their insights as the government begin an extensive programme of engagement to develop the 10 Year Health Plan.
In the organisational response they are being asked five questions:
- What does your organisation want to see included in the 10-Year Health Plan and why?
- What does your organisation see as the biggest challenges and enablers to move more care from hospitals to communities?
- What does your organisation see as the biggest challenges and enablers to making better use of technology in health and care?
- What does your organisation see as the biggest challenges and enablers to spotting illnesses earlier and tackling the causes of ill health?
- Please use this box to share specific policy ideas for change. Please include how you would prioritise these and what timeframe you would expect