In Detail, In Brief: Securing the future of our NHS
- Bristol South
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
After months of hard work, the 10-Year Health, Plan for England was published in July this year. This plan, informed by the views of thousands of staff and members of the public, will help deliver on our promises at last year’s General Election—a healthier, fairer, more prosperous country.
There is a deliberate and specific focus on the impact of health inequality on disadvantaged communities. There is also very clear commitment to ensure that opportunities to work in healthcare are extended to those communities.
The National Health Service is at the heart of our plan, but every part of national and local government, business and the voluntary sector needs to play its part. For too many patients, the current NHS is overly complex and confusing. Having to navigate between GP services, community health, hospitals, care providers and others can be overwhelming.
Our alternative is a neighbourhood health service, with revitalized GP practices at its heart. Additional doctors are already being recruited, 1,700 new GPs since last October. Those who need it, will get a same day consultation, either digitally or by telephone. The 8am scramble for an appointment will end.
The aim is that almost everyone with a long term condition has a personalised care plan by 2027. If appropriate, patients will be able to manage their care through the NHS App, and with their care team choose what additional support is available. Everyone will have access to proper advice and support about how they can manage their health. There will not be a “one size fits all” approach; services will be designed with local needs in mind.
It is a decade since the four-hour target of admission, referral or discharge from accident and emergency (A&E) has been met. One in five of those who attend an A&E department do not need to be there, often because they are unaware of the alternatives. Urgent treatment centres in the community will be expanded and patients will be able to book urgent care.
By 2028 the NHS App will be the front door to the whole health service. Everyone will be able to book, move or cancel an appointment. More importantly, there will be a Single Patient Record, to which both patients and clinicians will have access. No patient should have to repeat, often several times to different staff, their health issues. Patients will be able to get advice, and treatment options. This will be implemented in maternity care first, as experiences in this area are not good enough.
A thread that runs through the entire plan is tackling the injustice of health inequality, a clear concern in Bristol. Where we live, the food in local shops, the quality of housing and schools all help determine health outcomes. Up to now, different bits of government have implement various preventative policies without an overall strategy.
That is changing.
From creating the first smoke-free generation to forcing landlords to deal with mould and damp, the law is already changing.
The obesity epidemic is the next big challenge. So, junk food advertising will be restricted, children will not be able to buy high-caffeine energy drinks, and local councils will be given greater powers to block fast-food outlets near schools.
All schools will be obliged to provide healthy nutritious food, with every child from a household claiming Universal Credit getting a free school meal. Supermarkets will be required to report on healthy food sales, and the previous government’s ban on “buy one get one free” for unhealthy food will be implemented this October. Weight loss services will be expanded, and treatments free at the point of need. A renewed focus on getting people active will include a digital NHS points scheme, where people will be rewarded for positive action to improve their health.
There is so much more, including tackling harmful alcohol consumption, cleaning up our air, addressing young people’s mental health.
As well as leading on the Plan as a Minister, I will, of course, continue the work on improving health outcomes for people here in Bristol South with our local NHS.
