Laying the foundation for the government’s promised health service reforms, the Department of Health and Social Care has launched a national conversation on the NHS to help inform the upcoming 10-year plan.
Everyone from members of the public to NHS staff and associated experts are being invited to share their thoughts on how to fix the NHS. People will have the opportunity to offer their insight until the start of next year, with the 10-year strategy set to be published in the spring.
This will underline how the NHS intends to initiate its three big shifts – these include:
- from hospital to community;
- from analogue to digital; and
- from sickness to prevention.
Reform plans
The neighbourhood health centres – which were outlined in the Labour Party’s general election manifesto – will be a major part of the first switch, with the idea being patients will have access to doctors, district nurses, care workers, physiotherapists, health visitors, mental health professionals etc. under the same roof.
Centralised data will form the backbone of the second shift, with a single patient record summarising health information, test results, and letters in a single place.
New laws are also set to be introduced to make patient health records more universally available - i.e., across all trusts, GP surgeries, and ambulance services. Giving staff faster access to crucial data is expected to save 140,000 hours of time a year.
The third and final reform theme could include opportunities for diabetes or high blood pressure patients to wear smart watches and other wearable technology, enabling self-monitoring.
Those wanting to sharing their views will be able to do so via a new online platform which is being launched at a health centre in East London, where health secretary Wes Streeting will meet with London Ambulance Service CEO to kickstart the conversation.
Daniel Elkeles (CEO at LAS) will feature in the upcoming magazine edition with an exclusive account of how the NHS trust is paving the way in NHS apprenticeships.
Landmark moment
“Whether you use the NHS or work in it, you see first-hand what’s great, but also what isn’t working,” said Streeting. “We need your ideas to help turn the NHS around.”
The public engagement will build on the recent publication of the Darzi Review, which found the NHS was in vital need of reform.
NHS England’s CEO, Amanda Pritchard, said: "The 10 Year Health Plan is a chance to make the best practice, normal practice across the country. So, we will be carrying out the largest ever staff engagement exercise in NHS history and leaving no stone unturned as we seek to harness frontline views, alongside those of patients and the public, to ensure this happens.”
NHS Providers’ deputy CEO, Saffron Cordery, has described the news as a “landmark moment” while the NHS Confederation’s CEO, Matthew Taylor, hopes a “turning point” is on the horizon.
Prime minister Keir Starmer added: “We have a clear plan to fix the health service, but it’s only right that we hear from the people who rely on the NHS every day to have their say and shape our plan as we deliver it.
“Together we can build a healthcare system that puts patients first and delivers the care that everyone deserves.”
Image credit: iStock
