NHS plan comes after the Government announced the NHS budget would be increased by £20bn a year by 2023.
The NHS in England has published a ten year plan setting its priorities for the future.
NHS England leaders say that the Long Term Plan could save up to 500,000 lives over the next ten years by focusing on prevention and early detection.
The plan comes after the Government announced the NHS budget would be increased by £20bn a year by 2023.
The biggest funding increases will be seen in GPs, mental health and community care.
Key priorities within the plan:
cancer
mental health
care for people with two or more chronic medical conditions
supporting people to age healthily and tackling issues such as dementia
children’s health
cardiovascular and respiratory diseases
learning disability and autism
There will also be a focus on improving the way that people are able to interact with the health service for example, by using digital technologies such as video consultations.
Video from NHS England on what the Long Term Plan means for you
Find out what it means for you
Read more about how the NHS Long Term Plain aims to improve care and outcomes for patients in the next ten years.
Local NHS organisations will be working with their local councils to develop and implement their own plans for the next five years.
These strategies will set out how they intend to take the ambitions from the NHS Long Term Plan and turn them into action to improve services and the health and wellbeing of their local communities, with a specific requirement to reduce health inequalities.
Imelda Redmond, National Director of Healthwatch England said:
“Both the Long Term Plan itself, and the increased financial investment being made in the NHS, are very welcome and it’s positive to see so many of the issues raised by Healthwatch up and down the country being addressed.
“What’s most important about today’s announcement is the extent to which the NHS has listened to the views and experiences of those who use its services.
“The plan recognises the major challenges people face in getting an appointment with their GP, and in response the NHS is rebalancing resources and bringing in new technology to help fix this.
“It is also clear that health service leaders have heard people’s desire to see mental health given much greater emphasis, particularly for young people.
“Healthwatch has played its part by bringing over 85,000 people’s experiences of care into the planning process, with the response of NHS leaders showing what difference it makes when people speak up and share their views.
“But the plan itself is just the start. Across the country, communities will now will come together with those running local hospitals and doctors’ surgeries to work out how this national plan is going to work in their area.
“Over the coming weeks we will be reaching out to every part of the country to give people a say, so if you want to shape what the NHS will look like in 10 years’ time get in touch with your Healthwatch.”
Does the NHS know what you think?
Over the coming weeks and months we will be working to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to have their say on what the Long Term Plan means for their area.
If you would like to share your view on what would improve health and care in your area, get in touch with your local Healthwatch.
Find out more about how through sharing your ideas and experiences with Healthwatch, you are helping to make a positive change to local health and care services.
The project is looking into the reasons why people may not have accessed virtual appointments – this is when a doctor, nurse or carer provides support over the phone or via video rather than in person.