New Delhi: The UK government has launched a new online platform to gather views on the future of the NHS as it works to develop a 10-year plan for the health service.
The platform, Change.NHS.uk, will be open until the start of next year and invites the public, NHS staff, and experts to share their experiences and ideas for how to improve the NHS. It will be used to help shape the government’s 10 Year Health Plan, which is due to be published in spring 2025 and will focus on three “big shifts” in healthcare.
The government said the move from hospital to community would involve the creation of new neighbourhood health centres which bring together GPs, district nurses, care workers, physiotherapists, health visitors and mental health specialists under one roof. The digital transformation plans include creating a single patient record that summarises information, test results and letters in one place through the NHS App. This would mean patients would not have to repeat their medical history at every appointment, while giving staff a full picture of their health.
Legislation is due to be introduced to make NHS patient health records available across all NHS trusts, GP surgeries and ambulance services in England, with the aim of speeding up patient care, reducing repeat medical tests and minimising medication errors.
Speaking at the launch of the online platform, 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.”