Comment EDITOR’S COMMENTwith LOUISE FRAMPTON THE CLINICAL SERVICES JOURNAL Editor
Louise Frampton
louiseframpton@stepcomms.com
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STEP COMMUNICATIONS ISSN No. 1478-5641
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The 10 Year Health Plan: the need to listen to patients and staff
The biggest national conversation about the future of the NHS since its birth was launched on 21 October 2024, as the entire country was called upon to share their experiences of the NHS. Members of the public, as well as NHS staff and experts, have been invited to share their experiences, views and ideas for fixing the NHS via the Change NHS online platform, which will be live until the start of 2025, and available via the NHS App. The public engagement exercise will help shape the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan which will be published in Spring 2025. Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said: “My mum worked for the NHS, my sister worked for the NHS
and my wife still works for the NHS - so I know first-hand how difficult it has been for staff and for patients battling against a broken system for over a decade. But it’s time to roll up our sleeves and fix it. 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.” Hearing the voices of patients and staff is vital to understanding what the issues are and will mark a move away from top-down change, providing the Government delivers on its promise to respond and act on the findings of the consultation. Rachel Power, Chief Executive of the Patients Association, said: “For far too long, many patients
have felt their voices weren’t fully heard in shaping health services. This national conversation, initiated by the Government, is a crucial opportunity to change that. We are excited to see patients being given a central role in developing the 10 Year Health Plan for the NHS.” Public and Patient Involvement can help to tackle health inequalities, but it can also
ensure that services put the patient at the centre of all they do. This public consultation is an extension of the premise of “no decision about me, without me”. However, it will also help healthcare leaders to understand how we can make healthcare more inclusive. The NHS may be free at the point of delivery, but it doesn’t necessarily mean there is equal access for all. So, what are the barriers for some sections of society in accessing quality care? We know that neurodiverse individuals (with autism, ADHD, dyslexia etc) have a particularly poor experience when accessing healthcare services, as well as when attempting to obtain a diagnosis and treatment (with excessively long waiting lists of up to 10 years in some areas for a diagnosis for ADHD) which would not be tolerated in any other area of healthcare provision (Source: ADHD UK). Many patients are also being forced to go private for healthcare diagnoses or treatment, due to long waiting lists, creating a two-tiered system. The Care Quality Commission’s annual assessment of the state of health and social care in England also raised concerns around children’s services and the health and wellbeing of young people, while women from Black and ethnic minority backgrounds continue to be more at risk of experiencing poor maternity care and outcomes. In moving to digital technologies, are we also excluding or leaving anyone behind? What
are the personal impacts of patients struggling to access a GP appointment? How do patients feel about the use of AI? Do they trust the NHS with their personal data? As the NHS evolves, it needs to meet the changing needs of an evolving patient demographic, to adapt to a changing technology landscape but, most of all, the Government need to listen to patients and those who care for them, when shaping the NHS’s vision for the future. What is notable about this consultation, however, is that is also asks ‘what are the best things about the NHS today?’. It has been a long time since anyone has asked this question, and it is important – what are we getting right? Have your say at:
https://change.nhs.uk/en-GB/
louiseframpton@stepcomms.com Get in touch and give us your views, email me:
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