A new Long-Term Plan for the NHS

·      The Conservative Government has always recognised the unique importance of the NHS. That’s why in 2010, when we took office and had to deal with the record peacetime deficit we inherited, we prioritised the NHS with real terms increases in spending every year.



·      And that’s why last year – in its 70th year – we committed to providing an additional £20.5 billion by 2023-24 to help make the NHS fit for the future. Not a one-off injection of cash. Not money to plug a gap or shore up a problem – but funding to protect the long-term future of the NHS.

 

·      In return for this funding – because this is not just about money – we asked the NHS to draw up a long-term plan. We asked for it to be clinically led and locally supported, with an absolute focus on cutting waste and ensuring every penny is well spent.

 

The NHS Long Term Plan was published today, setting out how we will protect the health service now and for generations to come. From birth, through the challenges that life brings and into old age, the plan will:

 

·         Give the NHS the biggest cash increase in its history. We are increasing the NHS budget by £20.5 billion in real terms over the next five years, meaning patients will be seen faster and outcomes will continue to improve. We will be investing an extra £4.5 billion into primary and community care services, and £2.3 billion extra into mental health services. There will also be a major crackdown on waste to make sure every extra penny of taxpayers’ money is spent wisely.

 

·         Grow the NHS workforce with more doctors, nurses and other health professionals, particularly in mental health, primary care and community services. We will create a better working environment for the people at the heart of our NHS with better training, support and career progression, stronger leadership at all levels, and a clamp down on bullying and violence to improve retention.

 

·         Bring the NHS into the digital age, making it fit for the future. New digital GP services will improve access and help people make appointments, manage prescriptions and view their health records online. Technology will help people manage long-term conditions, while digital health records will help different parts of the health and care system work together to deliver the care at the right time, in the right place.

 

·         Improve the care you receive and health outcomes across all life stages and for major conditions. We will ensure every baby gets the best start in life, and revolutionise how the NHS cares for young people experiencing poor mental health. For major conditions, such as cancer, we will improve care so people live longer and healthier, including measures to prevent up to 150,000 heart attacks, strokes and dementia cases over the next ten years. We will also support people to age well, ensuring older people get the support they need to remain independent in their own home for longer.

 

·         Target funding to reduce health inequalities so we have an NHS that delivers for everyone and will always be there for you and your family. We will support the best NHS organisations to help others improve their services, so the best care is available to everyone across the nation.

 

Third party responses:

 

·      The King’s Fund commented: ‘This is an ambitious plan that includes a number of commitments which – if delivered – will improve the lives of many people. NHS leaders should be applauded for focusing on improving services outside hospitals and moving towards more joined-up, preventative and personalised care for patients’ (The King’s Fund, 7 January 2019, link).

 

·      Chris Hopson, Chief Executive of NHS Providers, said: ‘There will be strong support across the NHS for the vision and ambition set out in the document’ (NHS Providers, 7 January 2019, link).

 

·      Brian Dow, Deputy Chief Executive of Rethink Mental Illness, said: ‘This could be the red letter day where we begin to genuinely reform the treatment of mental illness’ (Rethink, 7 January 2019, link).

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