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The best of the press on the 10 Year Health Plan

  • Gita Mendis
  • Jul 4
  • 2 min read

Fit for the future: 10 Year Health Plan for England was published yesterday. Grab a coffee, here’s your reading list from how the press are reporting it. We’ll update this on Monday.

 

HSJ’s summary of what was in the Plan and how it differed from the leaks and read their exclusive on that missing chapter on how it will be delivered. They have also pulled together a useful summary of all the local health services praised in the Plan. Today’s podcast with Dave West and Alastair McLellan is called ‘A profound disappointment’ – Alastair asks who is in charge? He thinks the plan leaves it open for a power struggle between the DHSC, ICBs, large trusts and GPs.


Denis Campbell in the Guardian is impressed by the Plan – ‘a serious, detailed and impressive piece of work’. He describes it as bold and radical, but familiar, “But its key objectives – “three big shifts” in the NHS’s modus operandi, from analogue to digital, treatment to prevention and hospital to community-based care – are familiar: “They have been the stuff of previous NHS plans, and multiple inquiries, for decades – much promised, but rarely delivered.”


The Times leader is generally positive about the ‘imaginative’ Plan but recognises that NHS funding may be the biggest reform needed - but not said. They point to increased use of private healthcare as essential for the survival of the NHS: ‘What was once unsayable must now be said: a strong private health sector is essential for the ­survival of the NHS. The government should consider tax breaks for companies that provide health schemes. Britons want timely and effective treatment, whoever provides it. Private health can ease the burden.’


Elsewhere The Times describes the logic of payment by results as ‘compelling’ but notes, ‘getting the practicalities right is a hugely complicated task. A lot will depend on whether GPs want the extra responsibilities - and financial opportunities - that come with new approaches. History suggests results are likely to be patchy: brilliant case studies can always be found in the NHS, but they are often passion projects of particularly dedicated staff. The challenge is always making the best, standard.’

They also question how the plan will be implemented: ‘But here is perhaps the biggest practical challenge: implementing the plan will be down to an NHS England in the process of abolishing itself, and dozens of local health groups who have just been told to lay off half their staff. Are their minds really going to be fully on the job?’


Questions about delivery and workforce highlighted by Sky News particularly regarding primary care and patient access and whether the public really has the patience to wait 10 years for improvements.


An analysis by Nursing Times highlighted deviation from the Workforce Plan which identified need to on increase the numbers of doctors and nurses. The 10 Year Health Plan focussing ‘on efficiency, aligning with remarks made by health and social secretary Wes Streeting about how he felt that increasing the size of the workforce was not necessarily the answer.’ Questions around how flexible working, mentioned in the plan, will be realised will need to wait for the 10 Year Workforce Plan due later this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

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