The Government’s 10 Year Health Plan for England has been launched, setting out a bold, ambitious and necessary new course for the NHS.
The plan fundamentally reinvents our approach to healthcare so that we can guarantee the NHS will be there for all who need it for generations to come.
It has been shaped by the experiences and expectations of members of the public, patients, our partners and the health and care workforce across the country, reflecting the changes that people wanted to see.
The publication of the long-term NHS plan is welcome news, not least because it reflects much of the work that is already taking place in south west London.
NHS South West London Chief Executive Officer Katie Fisher
Through the ‘Change NHS’ engagement exercise – the biggest ever conversation about the future of the NHS – people told us about the changes they wanted to see.
Through the ‘three shifts’ – from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from treatment to prevention – we will personalise care, give more power to patients, and ensure that the best of the NHS is available to all.
NHS South West London Chair Mike Bell said: “I welcome the 10-year plan’s publication and express my gratitude to everyone in south west London for contributing to the local consultation that helped to shape it.
“I was really pleased that so many of our staff, alongside people living in our six boroughs and community leaders, played their part by giving their time and valuable views to help shape a plan that aims to improve the quality of patient care and build a health service fit for the future.”
Katie Fisher, NHS South West London’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “The publication of the long-term NHS plan is welcome news, not least because it reflects much of the work that is already taking place in south west London.
“That includes the development of neighbourhood health teams across our six boroughs. We have some fantastic examples here – including Sutton where we are working to improve the health of people with cardiovascular disease based on data and strong community partnerships.
“Alongside this plan, we’re developing a clinically led strategic plan shaped by local expertise and population health data that will support the delivery of the 10-year plan and guide the long-term decisions we’ll make in the best interests of south west London patients.”
The three big shifts to get the NHS back on its feet and to make it fit for the future are:
- From hospital to community – transforming healthcare with easier GP appointments, extended neighbourhood health centres, better dental care, quicker specialist referrals, convenient prescriptions, and round-the-clock mental health support – all designed to bring quality care closer to home.
- From analogue to digital – creating a seamless healthcare experience through digital innovation, with a unified patient record eliminating repetition, AI-enhanced doctor services and specialist self-referrals via the NHS app, a digital red book for children’s health information, and online booking that ensures equitable NHS access nationwide.
- From sickness to prevention – shifting to preventative healthcare by making healthy choices easier – banning energy drinks for under-16s, offering new weight loss services and introducing home screening kits.
The full plan can be read on the Government’s website.