08-08-2025
How the East Midlands is already transforming NHS care
The NHS 10-Year Plan, published by the government last month, lays out an ambitious vision - to make healthcare more accessible, efficient and centred around the needs of patients. But what does that look like in practice?
Across the East Midlands, change is already happening, from quicker ways to access a GP and faster hospital discharges, to better care and support for patients at home. These innovations matter all year round but especially during the winter months when the NHS comes under its greatest pressure.
Freeing up hospital beds faster
Flow through hospitals, from A&E to wards to discharge, becomes even more critical in winter when beds are tight and demand surges.
At King's Mill Hospital in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, five daily meetings coordinate resources and discharge planning. The goal? To make sure beds are available for those who need them, when they need them.
A key part of this is the hospital's Discharge Lounge, which opened just over a year ago. It provides a calm space for patients who are ready to go home but waiting on medication or transport.
'It's a much calmer experience,' said 80-year-old Jillian, waiting to be collected after a hospital stay.
More than 10,500 patients have used the lounge so far, a move that's significantly reduced pressure on wards and emergency departments.
'Everything we do from the moment someone comes through the door, their whole journey, is key to making sure they can leave in a timely way,' said Janine Foxhall, Associate Director of Operations at Sherwood Forest Hospitals.
GP access easier with technology
Primary care is evolving and digital tools are helping ease pressure on phone lines, cutting down the rush for 'those 8am appointments' and making it easier for patients to get the care they need.
At Measham Medical Unit in North West Leicestershire, nearly half of GP appointments are now booked through Rapid Health - an NHS-approved online triage system available 24/7. The practice has been using it since November 2024 and has already noticed the difference.
'It's taken approximately 500 to 600 appointments off the telephone system each week, reducing wait times significantly,' said Dr Ruth Handford.
For many patients, the convenience is a game-changer.
'I didn't have to sit on the phone and wait 45 minutes for an appointment that probably never comes,' said patient James Pearson. 'I can just book the appointment online and I usually get it the same day or the next. It really helps with time.'
The surgery still offers phone bookings for those less confident with tech and continues to provide appointments for children and home visits.
'It's really important that we try and find new ways to safely manage the demands on the service,' added Dr Handford. 'It's just a case of getting the right patient to the right clinician in the right place and that applies across the whole NHS.'
Bringing healthcare closer to home
One of the NHS Plan's key ambitions is to develop more localised, community-based care. In Derbyshire, the 'Team Up' initiative is already putting that into practice.
'Team Up' brings together GPs, pharmacists and social prescribers to support people with complex needs in their own homes - reducing hospital admissions and improving quality of life.
For Rob Bell from Chaddesden, Derby, the impact has been life-changing. Three years ago, a construction site accident left him with multiple injuries, paralysis and bouts of temporary blindness. His health and hope were declining fast.
'Before, I was like a zombie,' Rob said. 'Now, I'm alive again and that's what they have done.'
A GP referral a year ago connected him with the Complex Care Team, part of 'Team Up'. Since then, he's had medication reviews, help applying for benefits and support moving into an accessible home.
'If you can get better communication and better working with health and social care, then that enables strategies to be put in place,' said Dr Ruth Lenehan from the team. 'People stay at home, get the care they need and avoid unnecessary hospital visits. It's a win-win for everyone.'
Since launching in 2021, the initiative has helped prevent an estimated 1,000 unnecessary hospital trips and 700 unplanned admissions every year, saving around 3,500 hours of GP time annually.
Faster surgical care with same-day discharge
Not all emergencies need an overnight stay and the Surgical Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) unit at King's Mill Hospital proves it.
Launched in 2024, the unit sees patients with urgent surgical issues like abscesses, gallstones or wounds, offering treatment plans and often sending them home the same day. About 80% of patients are discharged within hours.
'It's been really efficient,' said James Prewett, who came in for a recurring abscess. 'I saw my GP this morning and four hours later it was dealt with. Just one day off work and the problem's gone.'
With more than 2,000 patients seen in its first year, the unit is helping reduce pressure on A&E and freeing up hospital beds.
'On an almost daily basis the hospital is at or near capacity,' said Clinical Lead, Consultant Jane Patterson. 'But patients are more willing to be seen and discharged, as long as they've had a proper assessment and a clear plan. That really seems to work.'
What the next 10 years could bring?
The NHS 10-Year Plan is designed to reshape services around people's lives - making care more personalised, more integrated and closer to home. Across the East Midlands, these changes are already underway.
Whether it's online GP triage, community care teams, faster discharges or same-day surgery, each innovation is helping the NHS run more smoothly, when every hour and every bed matters. It's already making a difference to thousands of patients across the region.
