Major new NHS plan vows to end ‘8am scramble' for GP appointment
Published by the government today, the ambitious strategy outlines "three big shifts" in how the NHS will operate.
These include a transition from analogue to digital services, a greater emphasis on prevention over treatment, and a significant move from hospital -centric care towards community-based provision.
The plan signals an end to the "status quo of hospital by default," with a clear intention to relocate care into local neighbourhoods and individuals' homes.
By 2035, the majority of outpatient services are expected to be delivered outside traditional hospital settings, reducing the need for hospital appointments for conditions such as eye care, cardiology, respiratory medicine, and mental health.
To facilitate this transformation, new neighbourhood health services are set to be rolled out nationwide.
These will bring essential services like diagnostic tests, post-operative care, nursing support, and mental health teams closer to communities, making healthcare more accessible and integrated into daily life.
The announcement comes as Sir Keir Starmer is also expected to unveil his own vision for the NHS later today, which will focus on "three big shifts" in the health service.
The aim is to give people access to a full range of services, leaving hospitals to focus on the sickest, with neighbourhood health centres opening at evenings and weekends.
These will be staffed by teams including nurses, doctors, social care workers, pharmacists, health visitors, palliative care staff and paramedics.
New services will also include debt advice, employment support and stop smoking or obesity services – all of which affect people's health.
Community outreach, with people going door to door, could also reduce pressure on GPs and A&E, the Government said.
The plans also outline training for thousands more GPs, as the Government pledges to 'bring back the family doctor' and end the '8am scramble' to get an appointment.
Sir Keir said: 'The NHS should be there for everyone, whenever they need it.
'But we inherited a health system in crisis, addicted to a sticking plaster approach, and unable to face up to the challenges we face now, let alone in the future.
'That ends now. Because it's reform or die. Our 10-year health plan will fundamentally rewire and future-proof our NHS so that it puts care on people's doorsteps, harnesses game-changing tech and prevents illness in the first place.
'That means giving everyone access to GPs, nurses and wider support all under one roof in their neighbourhood – rebalancing our health system so that it fits around patients ' lives, not the other way round.
'This is not an overnight fix, but our Plan for Change is already turning the tide on years of decline with over four million extra appointments, 1,900 more GPs, and waiting lists at their lowest level for two years.
'But there's more to come. This Government is giving patients easier, quicker and more convenient care, wherever they live.'
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said the plan would deliver 'one of the most fundamental changes in the way we receive our healthcare in history'.
He added: 'By shifting from hospital to community, we will finally bring down devastating hospital waiting lists and stop patients going from pillar to post to get treated.
'This Government's Plan for Change is creating an NHS truly fit for the future, keeping patients healthy and out of hospital, with care closer to home and in the home.'
In a bid to free up time, GPs will be encouraged to use artificial intelligence to take notes, while technology will be used to speed up the answering of calls to surgeries.
Dental therapists, who tend to carry out some of the straightforward work of dentists, could undertake check-ups, treatment and referrals, according to the plan.
And there will be a new requirement for newly-qualified dentists to practise in the NHS for a minimum period, intended to be three years, according to the Government.
Ministers also want to improve access to dental care for children, such as by allowing dental nurses to give fluoride varnish to children in between check-ups.
Royal College of Nursing (RCN) general secretary, Professor Nicola Ranger, said: ''A neighbourhood health service is a bold vision and it needs nursing staff in the driving seat.
'The Prime Minister must back up his plan with a clear one to turn around the shortage of nurses in all local communities.
'Moving care away from overcrowded hospitals is urgent and necessary but it will prove impossible whilst this part of the healthcare workforce is so depleted and undervalued.
'Crucial teams of district nursing and health visiting staff, who keep patients well and safe at home, have fallen by thousands in the last decade or more.'
Thea Stein, chief executive of the Nuffield Trust, said: 'Top quality community services, like district nursing, end of life care and rehabilitation, are, in pockets of the country, already working around the clock to fit care around patients' needs, working closely with GPs, charities and council staff.
'This approach is essential if we want to end the disjointed ways of working that too often leave patients to do the time-consuming and often bewildering job of joining up their own care.'
She said, however, that a lack of detail on how it will all work 'casts doubt on whether it will stick'.
She added: 'What's more, care closer to home doesn't mean care on the cheap.
'While ministers are always keen to cite examples of community services saving money, often this kind of care costs more, not less… let's be under no illusion, this is not a money-saving measure.'
Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of the King's Fund, said: 'As the Government publishes its 10-year plan for health today, what patients, the public and those working in the NHS will want to know is, why it will be different this time, and how soon it will lead to improvements?
'When will it mean people can see a GP more easily, or get mental health support for their child, or not wait hours in A&E?
'There is plenty to welcome in the details we've seen so far, with the biggest changes outlined being about how people access NHS services, with the rollout of new neighbourhood health centres and a much greater role for the NHS app.
'At the King's Fund our call for a fundamental shift of care from hospital to community and a more people-first approach has been echoed by successive governments, so, whilst welcome, the vision itself is not new, the radical change would be delivering the vision.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Ministers face backbench calls to widen access to top tier of sickness benefits
Ministers are facing Labour backbench calls to widen access to their proposed top tier of sickness benefits. Labour backbencher Graeme Downie has proposed a welfare reform Bill amendment, so universal credit claimants with Parkinson's or multiple sclerosis who cannot work do not face repeated medical assessments to receive a payout. If MPs back his amendment, patients with 'evolving' needs who cannot work could also qualify for a higher rate of benefits. The Government's Bill has already cleared its first Commons hurdle at second reading, after work and pensions minister Sir Stephen Timms vowed not to restrict eligibility for the personal independence payment (Pip), with any changes coming in only after a review of the benefit. To meet his promise, ministers have had to table amendments to their own draft new law, to remove one of its seven clauses, which MPs will debate next Wednesday. Universal credit claimants with Parkinson's 'are already possibly struggling financially', Mr Downie told the PA news agency ahead of the debate. He added: 'The cost of living with a condition like Parkinson's can be very high. 'You may well require or need additional support.' The Dunfermline and Dollar MP said patients who struggle with their motor control might buy pre-chopped vegetables or chicken. 'Those things are expensive, so if you're already on universal credit and you're struggling, being able to do that significantly impacts your health, it significantly impacts your ability to live properly,' he continued. As part of the Government's reforms, the Department for Work and Pensions has proposed a new 'severe conditions criteria' for universal credit. Claimants in this category will be entitled to a higher rate of the benefit, and will not be routinely reassessed to receive money. To qualify, claimants must have limited capability for work or work-related activity (LCWRA) and symptoms which 'constantly' apply. Mr Downie's amendment would expand these criteria to claimants with 'a fluctuating condition'. It would cover 'conditions like Parkinson's but also multiple sclerosis, ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis), long Covid and a whole range of other conditions where, you know, in the morning things could be really good and in the afternoon things could be really bad, and even hour by hour things could change', he said. 'I felt it was necessary to table an amendment to really probe what the Government's position is on this, and ensuring that people with Parkinson's and conditions like that are not excluded from even applying and being considered.' Mr Downie's proposal has backing from 23 cross-party MPs. Juliet Tizzard, external relations director at Parkinson's UK, said: 'Criteria in the Bill say that a new claimant for the universal credit health payment will have to be 'constantly' unable to perform certain activities to qualify. 'This doesn't work for people with Parkinson's, whose symptoms change throughout the day. ' People with Parkinson's and other fluctuating conditions like multiple sclerosis will be effectively excluded from getting all the financial support they need. 'The Government has responded to our call and withdrawn the damaging restrictions to Pip. 'Now, they must do the same with the universal credit health element. The health of many people with Parkinson's is in their hands.'
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Explainer: Key healthcare provisions in Trump's tax bill
July 3 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives passed President Donald Trump's tax-cut and spending bill on Thursday, which contains sweeping changes to the government's Medicaid healthcare program covering about 71 million low-income Americans. Nearly 12 million of those enrollees could lose their insurance under the program if the bill is implemented and those changes become law, according to a June estimate from the Congressional Budget Office. Below is a breakdown of some of the key healthcare provisions in the current draft of the bill and how they could affect enrollees and businesses: Frequent eligibility checks U.S. states would be required to conduct eligibility checks at least twice a year for the roughly 20 million Medicaid enrollees covered through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) expansion, rather than yearly. These "expansion enrollees" are people with incomes of up to 138% of the federal poverty level, which roughly translates to $21,597 a year in 2025. The new bill also includes provisions to prevent Medicaid beneficiaries from simultaneously enrolling in more than one state Medicaid program. Mandatory work requirements Medicaid enrollees are not currently subject to work requirements under the law, but the new bill proposes that adults aged 19-64, with a few exceptions, complete a minimum of 80 hours of work or community engagement activities a month or be enrolled in an education program at least half time to qualify for the program. The requirements will apply from January 1, 2027. Scale back on provider taxes Medicaid is jointly financed by the federal and state governments. States help cover their share by collecting taxes from hospitals and other healthcare providers, known as provider taxes. The bill would tighten federal oversight of those taxes by replacing the current 6% cap on provider tax revenue with a new limit that is indexed to inflation. It would also restrict how states structure the taxes, including stricter rules on what kinds of services can be taxed and how payments are distributed across providers. While the bill does not reduce provider tax rates directly, the changes could make it harder for states to use these taxes to draw additional federal Medicaid funds. The final version of the bill also sets up a $50 billion rural hospital fund to help rural providers who have argued that the provider tax changes would force them to scale back service. Tightening verification Medicaid is currently open to some immigrants who are lawfully present in the country, though many - including green card holders - must wait five years before they can sign up. The new bill removes Medicaid eligibility for some non-citizens, including refugees, certain abused spouses and children, and people granted asylum. Increased cost-sharing requirements The current law gives states an option to impose nominal co-payments on individuals with incomes exceeding 150% of the federal poverty level. The new bill requires states to impose mandatory cost-sharing on expansion enrollees earning more than 100% of the federal poverty level. Co-pays can reach up to $35 per service, with some exemptions, including emergency care and preventive services. The bill could put a strain on the finances of insurers and hospitals, analysts said. Spencer Perlman, director of healthcare research at Veda Partners, estimated Medicaid enrollment could drop by 5 million compared to current projections. Since Medicaid insurers are paid a fixed amount per member, the decline could directly hit revenues of insurers like Elevance Health (ELV.N), opens new tab, Centene (ELV.N), opens new tab, and Molina Healthcare (MOH.N), opens new tab, which have significant exposure. In 2024, over 88% of Molina's total membership came from Medicaid plans, Centene derived about 46%, and Elevance about 19.5%. Analysts also warned of risks to insurers' exchange businesses, forecasting ACA marketplace enrollment to fall to 18 million by 2027 from 24 million in 2025, due to eligibility restrictions and likely subsidy expirations. "For companies like Centene, this is a double whammy," Perlman said. Hospitals face similar challenges, though a proposed $50 billion rural hospital fund could offset some reimbursement cuts, Jefferies analyst Brian Tanquilut said. Drugmakers are expected to see little impact, as Medicaid typically represents under 15% of their U.S. sales, UBS analyst Trung Huynh said.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Labour's 10-year health plan for the NHS is bold, radical
The government's 10 Year health plan to revive, modernise and future-proof the NHS in England – has arrived as the service is facing a dual crisis. It has been unable for a decade now to provide the rapid access – to GPs, A&E care, surgery, ambulances and mental health support – which people need and used to get. Normalisation of anxiety-inducing, frightening and sometimes fatal delay has produced a less tangible, but also dangerous, crisis – of public satisfaction, born of a profound loss of trust that the NHS will be there for them or their loved ones when they need it. Barely one in five people in Britain are happy with the NHS. Polling by Ipsos this week, ahead of the NHS's 77th birthday on Saturday, found that about 60% of voters have seen little improvement in it during Labour's first year in office. About the same proportion do not expect things to be much better by the time of the next election in 2029. It is hyperbole to say, as the plan does, that 'the NHS now stands at an existential brink'. The dissatisfaction with access problems is acute – but behind it lies enduring public support for the service itself. However, it is no wonder Keir Starmer and Wes Streeting have acknowledged the seriousness of the patient's condition and diagnosed radical surgery. It is blindingly obvious that, as the plan says: 'The status quo is no longer an option.' The authors of the 168-page document have produced a serious, detailed and impressive piece of work. It is unsparing in describing the many failings that mean the NHS is not just often frustrating for patients to use but also ill equipped to deal with the relentless demand for care created by an ageing, growing and increasingly unhealthy population, which is unlikely to fall soon. It also charts a new course for a service so indispensable that it is part of the nation's DNA. Labour's repeated claim that the Conservatives had left the NHS 'broken' helped win them last year's general election. And it has allowed the party during its time in government to blame the service's every dysfunction – staff shortages, overcrowded hospitals, inadequate mental health care – on its predecessors. But that time is over. The plan implicitly acknowledges that this narrative, a frequent refrain by Streeting, is no longer enough. After a year in power, this is Labour's prescription for how it will nurse the patient back to health. This – progress on delivering the planned transformation – is now a legitimate yardstick by which to judge Labour's stewardship of the nation's most treasured institution. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion The plan is as bold and radical as Streeting insists. But its key objectives – 'three big shifts' in the NHS's modus operandi from analogue to digital, treatment to prevention and hospital to community-based care – are familiar. They have been the stuff of previous NHS plans, and multiple inquiries, for decades – much promised, but rarely delivered. For example, the planned network of new 'neighbourhood health centres', with teams of health professionals and patient-friendly long opening hours, are very similar to the 'Darzi centres' proposed by the last Labour administration, of which few actually opened. Streeting does not pretend that the job of transformation will be easy. But there is a daunting array of obstacles to overcome. Will money needed to temporarily 'double run' old and new services during the transition be found? Will staff used to working in hospitals prove willing to switch to community settings? Will the gamble on technology pay off? Will the plan's failure to include big shifts to improve public health – such as mandatory reformulation of food or minimum unit pricing of alcohol – mean that the tidal wave of often-avoidable illness continues to outrun the NHS's ability to treat it? And will the decision to shed half of NHS England's 15,300 staff during its merger with the Department of Health and Social Care mean that Streeting does not have enough progress-chasers to ensure his tablets of stone are yielding real change? But the greatest risk Streeting faces is time. Alan Milburn, health secretary under Tony Blair and now Streeting's chief adviser, admitted later that the 2000 NHS plan bought him time to rescue the service from the derelict state his predecessors had left it in. But the often snail-like pace of previous NHS reforms suggests that, despite Labour having four more years in power, even that may not be enough for this plan to produce real, tangible benefits – changes to waiting times and the convenience of interacting with the NHS that patients notice. Voters keen to see 'our NHS' restored and improved may need to temper their expectations of rapid change, and ministers may have to do so too.
