Latest news with #10-YearPlan
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
UK Government reveals 10-year plan for NHS
The UK's Labour Government has revealed its '10-Year Health Plan' for the country's National Health Service (NHS). Speaking at a community health centre in London, Health Secretary Wes Streeting outlined what the plan encompasses. This includes a shift from the NHS being a 'sick service' to one that is preventative – an approach Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer, who also appeared at the launch in Stratford, said will be achieved with a stronger focus on early diagnosis and screening with the use of technology such as AI. The plan's release follows Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves' announcement last month that the NHS is set to receive a £29bn funding boost over the next three years. With £10bn ($13.5bn) of the total NHS funding Reeves announced to be earmarked to bring the 'analogue health system into the digital age', another key shift outlined by Starmer lies in transforming the NHS from an analogue to a 'truly digital' service. A report co-authored by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Siemens Healthineers, and Imperial College London that was commissioned by the NHS as input to its ten-year plan, forecasts that technology-driven innovation, with a focus on earlier diagnosis, has the potential to impact population outcomes through risk stratification and intervention to 'prevent disease and alleviate burden on the broader healthcare system'. Starmer emphasised that the NHS must seize the 'enormous opportunities' presented by developments in science and technology. The UK Prime Minister said: 'AI technology is an opportunity to make us more human,' clarifying that the introduction of more technology within the NHS would give NHS staff more time to 'do the things that only human beings can do'. Regarding technology, he added that there was 'no reason' the future of the NHS could not be a more app-based service, with greater application of the service's app planned for securing appointments and giving patients easier access to participation in clinical trials. Plans would shift the NHS towards being more of a community service, with the introduction of new community health centres. Calling such venues the 'future of the health service', Starmer said: 'Hospitals will always be important, but disease has changed, and we must change with it. Not only can we do that, we can do it in a way that improves care and convenience for millions of people.' According to the Prime Minister, this shift will help improve patient access to general practitioners (GPs), dentists and other services, including mental health support and smoking cessation clinics in 'every community across the country'. Clive Makombera, partner and head of NHS at RSM UK, an audit, tax, and consulting company, called the 10-Year Plan a 'pivotal moment for the future of the NHS'. He said: 'By embedding digital innovation, shifting care closer to home, and focusing on prevention, the NHS is laying the foundation for a more sustainable, equitable, and patient-centred future. 'Whilst these are the right priorities, delivering them will come with their challenges, even with the new funding that was recently announced.' Makombera cautioned that in achieving the government's aims, it must 'get the basics right' and rebalance resources and funding within the NHS to match its priorities. He continued: 'Shifting from reactive treatment to prevention will only be achievable by making better use of technology, delivering care closer to home and developing new models that centre around accountability. However, the NHS desperately needs more staff with the right skill set, which might require leveraging the expertise of the private healthcare sector. That said, existing workforce shortages in the healthcare system cannot be underestimated.' British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) CEO David Stockdale said the BHTA welcomed the plan's shift to community-centric care. "But at its foundation must lie the manufacturers and suppliers of essential medical equipment who enable independent living and timely hospital discharges," Stockdale said. "Without them, this vision simply won't take hold." BMA council chair Dr Tom Dolphin highlighted that the plan must show that the Government 'truly values' clinical leaders in the NHS. Dolphin said: 'The success of the plan, and whether it will improve patients' care and the public's lives, will hinge on whether it genuinely addresses the workforce shortages, and values and empowers professionals on the front line, or just rearranges deck chairs on a sinking ship. 'If this plan is to be as ambitious and transformative as the government would have us believe, it needs the backing of staff and any changes must be implemented in genuine partnership with workers on the frontline.' Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) CEO Richard Torbett called the plans to boost the NHS's offer on genomic medicine and accelerate clinical trials 'exactly right and very welcome'. 'This will transform patients' lives and take better advantage of the precision medicines and benefits of research that our sector can offer,' Torbett said. 'However, the successful implementation of the NHS 10-Year Plan will require a fundamental shift in how the UK approaches innovative medicines and vaccines. For too long, the UK has viewed innovation as a cost to be avoided, rather than an investment that can improve health outcomes and system productivity. 'The UK must reverse decades of disinvestment in innovative medicines that is increasingly preventing NHS patients from accessing medicines that are available in other countries.' Gerard Hanratty, head of health and life sciences at law company Browne Jacobson, held the banking industry up as one the NHS should take cues from. He said: 'Healthcare can learn much from the banking industry's digital transformation journey, which has been underpinned by consumer acceptance – and enthusiasm – for sharing sensitive data that provides real-time metrics and intelligent insights to manage finances effortlessly. 'Replicating this model to create 'digital health wallets' – secure, user-controlled platforms for storing, managing and sharing health information – could revolutionise patient self-management and open the door to incentivisation initiatives that are fundamental to the move from sickness care to prevention.' Amadeus Capital Partners' Pierre Socha called the NHS' plans to expand access to clinical trials through the NHS app a 'welcome step toward a more predictive, personalised healthcare system'. He commented: 'We've long believed that AI-driven diagnostics are foundational to the future of medicine. By embedding these technologies into national infrastructure, the UK is not only improving patient outcomes but also reinforcing its position as a global leader in life sciences innovation. "The integration of genomic data into routine care, combined with streamlined access to clinical trials via the NHS App, has the potential to accelerate drug development, reduce health inequalities, and unlock new models of preventative care.' "UK Government reveals 10-year plan for NHS" was originally created and published by Hospital Management, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Scottish Sun
14 hours ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
How the new NHS 10-year plan affects YOU – from fat jab roll outs to banishing the 8am GP scramble and AI docs
It comes as Wes told The Sun Britain will be 'fat free' within a decade with more people given access to weight loss jabs HEALTH CHECK How the new NHS 10-year plan affects YOU – from fat jab roll outs to banishing the 8am GP scramble and AI docs Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BRITS are about to see their beloved NHS transformed into the 'Neighbourhood Health Service' as part of the Government's long-awaited 10-Year Plan today. Ministers will vow to keep millions of Brits in England out of hospital and help them on their doorsteps before they fall seriously ill. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Millions of patients will be treated closer to home under plans to 'fundamentally rewire' the NHS in England Credit: Getty Images - Getty 2 Sir Keir Starmer said the NHS needed to 'reform or die' Credit: AFP The future will revolve around local health centres open six days a week outside of hospitals and GP practices. People will be offered help from doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists and even job advisers in the community. Services will vary locally, with some areas sending teams door-to-door to reach vulnerable and hard-to-reach patients. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Health Secretary Wes Streeting want to end 'perpetual firefighting' in hospitals that are buckling under the demand. The plan promises thousands more doctors, widespread use of technology and AI, and extra help with mental health, job advice and weight loss. It comes as Wes told The Sun Britain will be 'fat free' within a decade with more people given access to weight loss jabs PM Sir Keir said: '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.' The Government wants to move the focus of the NHS away from hospitals, which have become overloaded. Since 2011, waiting lists have ballooned from 2.5million to 7.5m. Wes Streeting brutally slams Kemi AND Farage and demands Tories say sorry for how they ran the NHS in blistering attack The rate of four-hour A&E waits increased to 40 per cent from less than 10 per cent, and around three in 10 cancer patients wait two months or more for treatment, up from closer to one in 10. Public satisfaction with the NHS has slumped to a record low of 21 per cent. Ministers said that by 2035 the majority of non-emergency care will take place outside of hospitals. People will be able to get scans and tests, straightforward treatments, check-ups and broader life help from the neighbourhood clinics. Local hubs may also dish out debt advice and job support, ministers say. The Government has vowed to fix staff problems by hiring more doctors, encouraging UK medical training and rewriting doctor contracts to improve funding. What's changing in the NHS? A massive overhaul will shift care closer to home and ease pressure on packed hospitals. Here's what the new 'Neighbourhood Health Service' means for you: 200 new Neighbourhood Health Centres open 12 hours a day, 6 days a week Centres staffed by nurses, GPs, paramedics, pharmacists, health visitors, rehab teams, and more Clinics may go door-to-door to find illness early Most care outside hospitals in homes, pharmacies, GP surgeries, and health centres NHS app upgraded with AI doctors to answer questions, book appointments, take notes, and write letters More doctors, nurses, and dentists trained and recruited in the UK Dental graduates must work in the NHS for at least 3 years before going private More cash will be funnelled into working-class areas in a bid to shrink the health gap between rich and poor. Wes Streeting is dismantling time-wasting quangos to cut paperwork, save money and speed up changes to the health service. He has called for 'more doers and fewer checkers' and his department is dissolving the NHS headquarters to take supreme control of local health boards. And the NHS app will be turbocharged so patients can book their appointments, check waiting times, quiz an AI doctor or send questions to real medics via their smartphones. 'Makes the NHS simpler' The Health Secretary said: 'Our plan will turn the NHS on its head. '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.' Daniel Elkeles, chief of NHS Providers which represents hospital bosses, said: 'This is a win for patients who will be better informed and empowered to direct their care as never before. 'It makes the NHS simpler, ensuring quicker decisions and innovations getting to frontline services faster. 'This is a recipe that offers the prospect of progress where previous plans have faltered.' Finance experts warn the plans will be costly – but the PM and Health Secretary refuse to pump endless cash into the NHS without results. Many parts of the plan already happen in some areas but need to be rolled out nationally. Others have been promised in previous schemes, such as 2019's Long-Term Plan, but failed due to a lack of money or time. A 'castle built on sand' Sarah Woolnough, chief of the King's Fund think-tank, said: 'There is plenty to welcome but the public will want to know why it will be different this time. 'Unlike previous plans, this plan will not come with promises of significantly more funding or staff. 'We won't necessarily feel the changes tomorrow or even next year, but if the NHS and its staff are given the support, resources and political cover to deliver the changes the plan proposes, the health system could feel very different in five to 10 years' time.' The Government have said the cash to pay for the new service will come from the £29bn boost to NHS funding announced in the last Budget. The Conservative MP and shadow health secretary Edward Argar said the NHS needed "reform, not just more cash" and warned that Labour's plan had to be "real and deliverable for patients". Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said the whole 10-year NHS strategy would be a "castle built on sand" unless ministers tackled what he described as a "crisis in social care".
