The biggest ever national conversation about the future of the NHS has taken to the road, with Middlesbrough hosting the first of a series of public debates about how to fix the health service.
More than 100 people from the North East and Yorkshire visited the town on Saturday 16 November to discuss their views of the NHS, share their experiences and offer suggestions for delivering an NHS fit for the future.
The Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, and the Chief Executive of NHS England, Amanda Pritchard, both attended. They asked people for their opinions on NHS reform and how the government’s 10 Year Health Plan can help tackle disparities in the wider region.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: "The NHS is going through what is objectively the worst crisis in its history. Whether it’s people struggling to get a GP appointment, calling an ambulance and not knowing whether it will arrive in time - particularly the problem here in the North East - or whether it’s turning up to a busy A&E department and waiting longer than people should.
"If we don’t get this right, the NHS may not be there for us, not just where we need it, but as a public service, free at the point of use as it has been for the last 76 [years]. So we’ve got to grip this now and make the right long-term decisions to get our NHS back on its feet and fit for the future. And for me, that means listening to your ideas for our 10 Year Health Plan."
NHS Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard said: "The 10 Year Health Plan is a chance to help the NHS continue to innovate and adapt, and make the best practice, normal practice across the country. So it’s been really positive that so many people have come forward to let us know about their experience of the NHS - good, bad and frustrating. We need patients and the public to continue to contribute to the 10 Year Health Plan - and help us build an NHS fit for the future."
Last month, the government launched change.nhs.uk, issuing a rallying call to the entire nation - including all 1.5 million NHS staff, as well as patients, experts and the wider public - to visit the online platform to share their experiences, views and ideas for fixing the NHS and to shape the plan.
The Change NHS online portal has already received almost one million visits. It will be live until spring 2025 and available via the NHS App.
Thousands of ideas to fix the health service have been submitted, with suggestions including:
- establishing an NHS research health company that can be used to get insights on early prevention
- digital records, so records from all hospitals are available to view at all GP surgeries
- pop-up and mobile clinics to meet surge demand for services in areas of need
- stop giving out paper leaflets and sending letters, and limit this to those who do not have access to IT to reduce waste
All submitted ideas will be carefully considered as part of the engagement process.
