Tag: Department of Health and Social Care

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 17 July 2025.

Hundreds of thousands of patients with long-term conditions will be automatically referred to specialist charities at the point of diagnosis.

• Better support to understand and manage conditions from day one, improving quality of life and avoiding unnecessary hospital visits, supporting an NHS fit for the future as part of the Plan for change
• Announced by the Prime Minister at the Civil Society Summit – the service is yet another example of how the government is working with civil society to deliver for working people

Hundreds of thousands of people diagnosed with long-term health conditions will receive extra help and support from expert charities, under a new service announced by the Prime Minister today (Thursday 17 July).

Diagnosis Connect will ensure patients are referred directly to trusted charities and support organisations as soon as they are diagnosed – providing personalised advice, information and guidance to help them manage their condition and feel more in control. This support is designed to complement, not replace, their usual NHS care. It recognises the vital role that civil society plays in helping repair the health of the nation.

With one in four people in the UK living with two or more long-term conditions this early, tailored support is vital. Patients living with multiple health issues often face the greatest challenges and the highest risk of complications. By helping people understand and manage their conditions from day one, the new service will help reduce flare-ups, improve quality of life and avoid unnecessary hospital visits.

The service, due to be launched in 2026, will support a quarter of a million people in its first two years focusing on areas like diabetes, mental health and lung conditions. It will be scaled up to reach hundreds of thousands more over the coming years.

The initiative, developed by the Richmond Group, was announced by the Prime Minister at the Civil Society Summit at the Science Museum, where he launched a new Civil Society Covenant to build stronger partnerships between government and charities, faith organisations, philanthropists, social investors and grassroots groups to deliver real results for working people.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

Being diagnosed with a long-term condition can be overwhelming. People are often handed a leaflet or a phone number and left to find help themselves—right when they’re feeling scared, confused and unsure where to turn.

We’re changing that. Just as people with cancer or dementia are often guided to well-known charities for specialist advice and support, this new service will make sure patients with other long-term conditions are directly referred to trusted organisations from the moment they’re diagnosed.

It’s about making it far easier to give people the emotional support, practical guidance and confidence they need to manage their condition and live fuller, more independent lives. Our Plan for Change is delivering for patients and making an NHs fit for the future.

In its first stage, launching in 2026, Diagnosis Connect will focus on patients diagnosed in primary care—such as at their GP surgery. Patients will be automatically connected with specialist charities that offer helplines, information, local support groups and services tailored to their condition.

As the programme expands, a digital referral system will allow NHS teams in all healthcare settings—including hospitals—to connect patients to a broad network of voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations.

Initially, the service will focus on key areas such as diabetes, lung conditions and mental health, with further conditions added over time.

As part of the government’s 10 Year Health Plan to shift the health service from analogue to digital, patients will be sent a text or push notification via the NHS App with information about relevant support groups and charities should they wish to seek further help.

Juliet Bouverie OBE, CEO of the Stroke Association and Chair of The Richmond Group of Charities said:

240 people of all ages wake up to stroke every day in the UK having lost the ability to move, speak or even swallow with lifelong repercussions for their mental health and quality of life. As the UK’s only stroke-specific support charity, we know the huge difference it makes to people affected by stroke to get information, help, and guidance easily and accessibly when they need it most.

We have recently been trialling a similar programme to ensure people affected by stroke know about our services right from the point of diagnosis. So, we’re confident that Diagnosis Connect can help transform the early stages of recovery and rehabilitation for the 1.4 million stroke survivors in the UK today and their loved ones. As the Government reforms the country’s healthcare, charities, like ourselves, have real potential to be an invaluable support for those who need us.

Gemma Peters, Chief Executive Officer at Macmillan Cancer Support, said:

We welcome today’s commitment from the Government to work in partnership to ensure support is available for people from day one. From the moment someone hears the words ‘you’ve got cancer’ lives are turned upside down and having the right support in place is vital.

Currently, there are almost 3.5 million people living with cancer across the UK and too many people face unacceptable differences in their experiences of diagnosis, treatment, and care because of who they are or where they live. This has to change. Better is possible and through our work with the government we want to ensure that everyone living with cancer gets the best care the UK has to offer.

Macmillan is here for everyone. No matter your question or your needs specially trained advisers are available on our Support Line and more ways to get support can also be found on our website.

Duleep Allirajah, Chief Executive of The Richmond Group of Charities, said:

We are delighted that the government, as part of its 10 Year Health Plan, has committed to this pioneering digitally enabled service, helping more people diagnosed with health conditions to manage through expert support from charities.

Being diagnosed with a health condition can be a time of worry, questions and fears for the future. It’s when access to the right kind of support makes all the difference. Charities provide vital guidance, understanding and support to individuals, through personalised information, helplines, access to specialists and links to others who also live with the condition.

The Richmond Group of Charities helped develop this proposal for automatic referrals to specialist charity support. We look forward to this becoming second-nature, so that all people with long-term conditions can benefit from support when they need it.

Partner comments:

Chris Larkin, Associate Director of Services at Alzheimer’s Society, said:

There are currently around one million people in the UK living with dementia. A third of those are undiagnosed, leaving them to face the devastating realities of dementia without access to the vital care, support and treatment that a diagnosis can bring.

For those who do manage to access a diagnosis, they tell us that finding the right support can often feel like trying to navigate a maze, with multiple dead ends and wrong turns.

Diagnosis Connect has the potential to hand families a map and steer them in the right direction, towards people who understand dementia, guiding them from diagnosis through to end of life.

Alzheimer’s Society’s services are a lifeline for people affected by dementia. We’re ready to work with the Government and share our knowledge from supporting people through one of the hardest times in their lives.

Sarah Sleet, Chief Executive at Asthma + Lung UK, said:

We are delighted to see Diagnosis Connect being taken up by the government, an approach Asthma + Lung UK has already championed as a game-changer for people newly diagnosed with lung conditions. As the NHS shifts its focus from moving more care out of hospital and into the community, ensuring people have access to advice and support to manage chronic health conditions is crucial. It makes absolute sense for the government to work in partnership with health charities to do this, capitalising on our vast expertise and community connections.

Respiratory illness is the leading cause of emergency hospital admissions, yet levels of basic care for lung conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are worryingly low.  Signposting people to organisations like Asthma + Lung UK from the moment they are diagnosed can make all the difference. We know that with the right support and information, people are better able manage their lung conditions, meaning they can stay well and out of hospital. We all have a role to play in supporting the NHS and keeping patients safe and supported. Asthma + Lung UK is committed to doing our part, together with other charities.

Dr David Chaney, Director of Services, Community and Improvement at Diabetes UK, said:

Being diagnosed with diabetes can be an overwhelming and often lonely experience. It can be difficult to know where to turn. Getting the right support from day one can make all the difference, giving people the best chance of living well with diabetes and reducing their risk of developing devastating complications in the future.

We’re delighted to see the Government harnessing the support offered by charities, through Diagnosis Connect. By connecting people to charities from the moment of diagnosis, this initiative will help embed early, compassionate support into everyone’s diabetes journey, so no-one faces a life-changing diagnosis alone.

Nick Moberly, Chief Executive at the MS Society, said:

We’re really pleased the government is supporting Diagnosis Connect. More than 150,000 people live with MS in the UK, and this new service has real potential to ensure everyone gets timely information and vital support at diagnosis to help them live well with MS.

This first stage is a positive step forward in better connecting the NHS to charities. Together with the Richmond Group we look forward to developing Diagnosis Connect to help provide personalised advice, information and guidance to our communities in England.

Helen Buckingham, Chair of National Voices, said:

Being diagnosed with a new and potentially serious health condition can be an overwhelming, burdensome and sometimes frightening experience. We know from our members that providing support at the point of diagnosis is vital to ensuring that people have the skills and confidence to manage their condition, reducing the risk of deterioration.

The VCSE sector, properly funded, can play an important part in making the 10 Year vision a reality. This is just one example of the value of enabling the sector to perform their unique role in the health system; supporting the people they advocate for. We hope to see many more.

David Newbold, Director of Community at Parkinson’s UK, said:

We are pleased to see the government launch the first phase of Diagnosis Connect. This new initiative builds on the great work of many charities in supporting people as soon as they are diagnosed with a health condition.

Since 2019, we have been trialling our own pioneering service, Parkinson’s Connect, which refers newly diagnosed people to our community of support. So we believe Diagnosis Connect will supercharge our service, ensuring no one is left uncertain of where to turn when diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

We look forward to working with the DHSC and the NHS to shape and deliver this vital new programme.

Rachel Power, Chief Executive, The Patients Association said:

This is a welcome initiative that rightly recognises the vital role expert charity support plays in helping patients manage long-term conditions. Our work shows that patients living in underserved neighbourhoods often struggle to get the information they need and face barriers when communicating with healthcare professionals. Early access to trusted charities at the point of diagnosis can make a real difference.

For it to truly succeed, the referral system needs to capture the full diversity of support available, from established national charities to grassroots community organisations. Done right, this could help reduce health inequalities and be transformative for all patient outcomes.

Mark Winstanley, Chief Executive of Rethink Mental Illness, said:

When people are struggling with their mental health, it can be hard to know where to turn. Charities like Rethink Mental Illness and Mental Health UK offer trusted, user-informed advice and support, built with and regularly reviewed by the people it’s designed to help. Diagnostics Connect will help ensure people get the best possible guidance when they need it most.

Our work in areas like Somerset, Sheffield and Tower Hamlets has shown the positive impact of the NHS working in partnership with charities and community groups to create smoother pathways to care. This initiative is an important step forward, strengthening the third sector’s vital role in complementing the NHS and ensuring people get the support they need.

Deborah Alsina, Chief Executive, Versus Arthritis said:

More than 450,000 people are diagnosed with arthritis every year, so it is essential they can access the right information, care and support swiftly.

As the UK’s leading arthritis charity, we are encouraged by the Government’s new initiative to connect people at the point of diagnosis with expert charities like Versus Arthritis.

Living life in the grip of the pain and fatigue caused by arthritis can leave people isolated and too often kickstart a downward spiralling of both mental and physical health. Early intervention and support at this crucial time will enable people to manage their condition and navigate the health system with greater confidence. We look forward to working with the Government and our partners in the Richmond Group of Charities to deliver this important new service.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 17 July 2025.

Pharmacists will benefit from better access to pharmacy services as part of 10 Year Health Plan, under new proposals set out by the government today.

• Government freeing up pharmacist time so they can treat patients more
• Qualified pharmacy staff could get expanded roles to improve patient access and allow pharmacists to focus more on frontline care
• Move part of delivery drive of the 10 Year Health Plan, moving care closer to the community

Patients will benefit from better access to pharmacy services under new proposals set out by the government today.

As part of the immediate work to start delivering the 10 Year Health Plan, the Department of Health and Social Care has published plans to modernise pharmacy supervision rules, to allow registered pharmacy technicians to take greater responsibility and enable pharmacists to focus more on frontline patient care.

The changes, which have been welcomed by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK and the General Pharmaceutical Council, will modernise pharmacy practice and make better use of the skills within pharmacy teams.

This will give pharmacies greater flexibility in how they deploy their staff, freeing up pharmacist time to deliver more clinical services and to help advise patients on prevention as well as sickness as part of the government’s Plan for Change while ensuring that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians can work to the top of their profession.

Minister Stephen Kinnock said:

We have hit the ground running in delivering our 10 Year Health Plan, and this is another immediate and tangible change that will mean patients get better care closer to their home, while we also modernise the NHS.

Pharmacists will be able to spend more time providing clinical care, while qualified pharmacy technicians can take greater responsibility for routine tasks.

This will improve patient experience and help avoid delays in accessing medicines when the pharmacist is not available.

These are simple, common-sense changes that will help pharmacies run better, saving staff and patient time.

The draft legislation follows extensive consultation with pharmacy professionals and stakeholders. It is expected to come into effect by the end of 2025 and the bulk of the measures will have a one-year transition period to allow for the development of professional standards and guidance.

It will expand who can supervise the dispensing of medicines, empower the pharmacy workforce to deliver better care and unlock clinical expertise, so communities are served more effectively by their local pharmacy and delivering on the Plan for Change by improving care in the community and reducing pressure on the NHS.

This is another example of this government’s commitment to support the pharmacy sector – and builds on the package of recently enacted measures to dispense medicines more quickly and efficiently.

We have invested a record amount in the sector with the largest uplift in funding seen by community pharmacy for over a decade.

These further measures will help transition community pharmacy from being largely focused on dispensing medicines to becoming integral to the Neighbourhood Health Service, supporting the shift from hospital to community set out in our 10 Year Heath Plan.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 16 July 2025.

The review looked into the safety of the roles of physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs) and how they support wider health teams.

Patient safety will be strengthened across the country, as the government accepts all the recommendations of an independent review into physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs).

The review chaired by Professor Gillian Leng CBE – an experienced leader in the UK healthcare system – has made 18 recommendations aimed at providing clarity to patients and improving patient safety.

Launched in November 2024, it looked into the safety of the roles of PAs and AAs and how they support wider health teams.

Professor Leng sought evidence from a range of voices including patients, staff groups, employers within the NHS, professional bodies and academics. The review’s recommendations cover recruitment and training, supervision and professional regulation.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

Patients should always know who they are being treated by and should always receive appropriate care.

Legitimate concerns about patient safety have been ignored for too long – that’s why I sought out the very best clinical advice to review physician associates and anaesthesia associates’ roles in the NHS.

I want to thank Gillian Leng, one of the UK’s most experienced healthcare leaders, for her comprehensive, thorough report.

We’re accepting all of the recommendations of the Leng review, which will provide clarity for the public and make sure we’ve got the right staff, in the right place, doing the right thing. Patients can be confident that those who treat them are qualified to do so.

Physician assistants, as they will now be known, will continue to play an important role in the NHS. They should assist doctors, but they should never be used to replace doctors.

Our Plan for Change will build on its findings and we will work to implement these findings in the interests of staff and patients alike.

Dr Claire Fuller, Co-National Medical Director (Primary Care) at NHS England, said:

We welcome the publication of this review and the clarity it provides on how these vital and valued roles can best support high-quality care for patients as part of multidisciplinary teams.

Following legitimate concerns raised, it is right this review has gathered expert insight and evidence from across the health service and internationally and we will now work with the service and government to fully consider and implement its recommendations.

Professor Gillian Leng said:

I’m pleased the government is implementing the recommendations in full.

My review provides the opportunity of a reset, but this must be the start of the conversation, not the end.

Now it’s time to focus on delivery: bringing clarity for patients, complementarity between doctors and assistant roles, collaboration across teams, focused on ensuring safe and effective high-quality care.

The Health and Social Care Secretary today confirmed he would accept all the recommendations and begin work to bring them in as quickly as possible, directing NHS England to write to systems leaders setting out the immediate actions for them to take.

Resident doctors have raised concerns about the safety and lack of clarity for PA and AA roles – and the government is listening to them.

Implementing the review’s recommendations will provide clarity for the public and – crucially – improve patient safety and quality of care. PAs and AAs still have a vital role to play in wider teams and caring for patients, with many hard-working PAs and AAs making a vital contribution across the healthcare system. These recommendations will provide certainty and options for their career development.

At the same time, clear guidance will be offered to other healthcare professionals and patients about the contributions and limits of these roles.

PAs will in future be identified as physician assistants and AAs will be renamed as physician assistants in anaesthesia, reflecting their role as supportive members of medical teams. They will also not be able to treat undiagnosed patients, except within clearly defined cases.

Permanent faculties will be established to provide professional leadership and set standards for physician assistants and physician assistants in anaesthesia. They will also form part of a clear team structure – led by a senior clinician – where everyone is aware of their roles, responsibilities and accountability.

Doctors will receive training in line management and leadership, ensuring they can properly fulfil their supervisory roles.

Collaboration will be vital in the face of increasing NHS demand and the recommendations should serve as a reset – encouraging greater teamwork across healthcare teams. These reforms all form part of the Plan for Change’s mission to build an NHS fit for the future, and one which works for patients and staff.

Lessons learned from the review will feed into the government’s upcoming workforce plan, ensuring the NHS has the right staff in the right place at the right time.

The 10 Year Health Plan will also ensure that new and expanded roles are rolled out in a way which ensures that public, patient and professional confidence is maintained.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 11 July 2025.

A new pilot programme will support people with health conditions back into employment and ease pressure on doctors.

• Fifteen pioneering regions to trial groundbreaking approach to reduce GP pressure and help local people back to work
• Pilot scheme to transform how fit notes are issued
• Part of Plan for Change to grow the economy, get Britain back to work and make an NHS fit for the future

Fifteen regions will benefit from a new pilot programme to support people with health conditions back into employment, while reducing pressure on GPs in the area.

The WorkWell Primary Care Innovation Fund, backed by £1.5 million across 15 regions, will combat the practice of immediately writing people off with a fit note, and instead look to find other ways to help people back into work. WorkWell is expected to support up to 56,000 disabled people and people with health conditions into work by spring 2026 and forms part of this government’s wider efforts to get the NHS back on its feet, reduce economic inactivity, and grow the economy by supporting more people into work and out of poverty as part of its Plan for Change.

This fresh approach addresses a critical challenge facing both patients and the NHS. Currently, of the 11 million fit notes issued electronically in primary care across England last year, 93% simply declared people ‘not fit for work’ – offering no constructive alternative or support pathway.

The new funding will enable WorkWell sites – funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) – to connect patients to local support services to provide work and health advice to more patients receiving a fit note.

Patients will receive targeted and timely support to manage their health condition while exploring realistic options for staying in or returning to work, rather than facing a dead-end ‘not fit for work’ declaration.

Interventions via the WorkWell Primary Care Innovation Fund could include:

• hiring work and health coaches, social prescribers or occupational therapists for GP teams to refer patients to for holistic support, help and advice, from gym memberships to career coaching
• supporting and upskilling occupational therapists or physiotherapists to issue fit notes and improve the quality of work and health advice given to a patient
• upskilling GPs and wider GP teams to improve their ability to support patients with local work and health advice

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

This pilot is a step towards transforming a broken system that’s been failing people for years.

It isn’t just about freeing up GPs to treat patients rather than fill in forms. It’s about fundamentally changing the conversation from ‘you can’t’ to ‘how can we help you?’ When someone walks into their doctor’s surgery worried about their job, they should walk out with a plan, not just a piece of paper that closes doors.

We can’t afford to keep writing people off. Every person we help back into work isn’t just transforming their own life – they’re contributing to our communities, our economy and breaking the cycle that’s been holding Britain back. This is what building an NHS fit for the future through our Plan for Change looks like.

WorkWell sites have already been exploring ways to get patients back into work. For example, June, a patient in the West Midlands, had been on sick leave following a period of poor mental and physical health suffering from anxiety, PTSD and arthritis. She had sessions with a work and health coach via her local WorkWell site, getting support to communicate her needs to her employer and seek reasonable adjustments. This allowed her to return to work with amended hours and responsibilities, avoiding the need for her to be signed off work.

Though a range of healthcare professionals can issue fit notes, 90% of fit notes issued electronically in primary care in England last year were issued by doctors – adding to GP workload pressures.

Instead of GPs spending valuable consultation time on administrative fit note processes, WorkWell sites will use this funding to explore how specialist professionals like pharmacists and occupational therapists can provide comprehensive support that benefits patients and employers, and reduces pressure on primary care services.

The initiative directly supports the commitment in the government’s 10 Year Health Plan to embed employment advice within new neighbourhood health services, shifting care from hospitals to communities. This government has recruited over 1,900 extra GPs in the last year in a bid to fix the front door of the NHS.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said:

We know that good work is good for people’s health and good for the economy too, but the current system is holding too many people back – denying many the dignity and self-respect this work brings.

WorkWell is transforming lives by helping people stay in and get back to work, and this significant investment will help even more people unlock good jobs and boost living standards.

With 2.8 million people currently out of work due to health conditions, this pilot will take a crucial step toward breaking the cycle of poor health and poverty that holds back people’s lives and economic growth.

It is a key part of the government’s pledge to cut waiting lists – crack teams of clinicians have already been sent to areas where more people are out of work, and new community diagnostic centres are opening 12 hours a day, 7 days a week across the country. Overall waiting lists have fallen by over 260,000 since last July.

This also comes on the same day as a £100 million funding boost to Connect to Work programmes, which will help thousands of people who are out of work due to health conditions, disabilities or other reasons to find and stay in jobs.

As part of a significant package of support to reform to the broken welfare system, the government is making changes to genuinely support sick or disabled people and those with health conditions into work, amounting to £1 billion per year by the end of the decade, while the Get Britain Working white paper is overhauling Jobcentres and empowering mayors and local leaders to tackle inactivity.

Evidence from the pilot scheme will be used to inform our wider approach to work, health and skills, as this government gets Britain working through the Plan for Change, backed by an NHS fit for the future.

Background information and regions taking part

The WorkWell Primary Care Innovation Fund will provide a share of £1.5 million to each of the 15 WorkWell pilot sites: £100,000 per site.

The WorkWell pilot programme is expected to support up to 56,000 disabled people and people with health conditions into work by spring 2026.

This innovative model brings together integrated care boards, local authorities and Jobcentre Plus to provide a single, co-ordinated gateway to work and health support services.

The regions in the pilot are:

• Birmingham and Solihull
• Black Country
• Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
• Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
• Coventry and Warwickshire
• Frimley
• Herefordshire and Worcestershire
• Greater Manchester
• Lancashire and South Cumbria
• Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
• North Central London
• North West London
• South Yorkshire
• Surrey Heartlands

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 3 July 2025.

NHS App to become the complete digital front door to the NHS, where patients book appointments, manage medicines and view data.

• Prime Minister sets out how 10 Year Health Plan will bring NHS into 21st century to meet the needs of patients around the country
• Patients to make self-referrals through app, connect with a clinician, link-up wearable tech and gain free access to health apps
• Plan for Change will rebuild NHS and see ground-breaking single patient record finally in one place – viewable on app from 2028

Patients will be able to access a range of healthcare services and advice at the touch of a button, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has set out today, as the government’s Plan for Change drives forward fundamental reform to the NHS to make it easier and fairer for everyone to access the care they need.

Launching the 10 Year Health Plan today (3 July 2025) – the government’s roadmap to rebuild the health service to make it fit for the future – the Prime Minister set out how the app will act as a digital front door to the health service, overhauling how people get advice, manage appointments and interact with services to make their healthcare more convenient and more personalised.

For the first time, patients will be able to book, move and cancel all their appointments on the app – ending the ‘8am scramble’ for a GP – and the app will use artificial intelligence (AI) to provide instant advice for patients who need non-urgent care, available 24/7.

Through the plan, which has been published in Parliament today, patients will have quicker, better access to the right care. They will be able to self-refer on the app to mental health talking therapies, musculoskeletal services, podiatry and audiology – freeing up GPs and new neighbourhood health centres to focus on providing direct care while dramatically slashing waiting lists for these services – delivering on the government’s Plan for Change promise to cut waiting lists.

Accessing healthcare will be quicker than ever thanks to expanded features on the app. People will be able to manage their medicines and book vaccines from their phone, connect with a clinician for a remote consultation and even leave a question for a specialist to answer without making an appointment. Patients simply being able to book an appointment digitally rather than today’s convoluted process will save the NHS £200 million over 3 years.

For parents, the new app will deliver a 21st century alternative to the ‘red book’, ensuring that their children’s medical records are available to them in their pocket, so they do not have to carry their red books to every appointment. It will also provide advice and support throughout childhood, offering guidance on weaning and healthy habits. Over time, it will record feeding times, monitor sleep, and use AI analytics to understand the best way to care for children when they are unwell.

The changes will build on the progress government has already made to increase the number of hospitals allowing patients to view appointment information on the app. Almost 12 million fewer paper letters have been sent by hospitals since July 2024. Forecasts for this year show the use of in-app notifications for planned care will prevent the need for 15.7 million SMS messages.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

For far too long, the NHS has been stuck in the past, reliant on letters, lengthy phone queues and even fax machines.

But that doesn’t match the reality of our daily lives, where everything from shopping and banking to entertainment and travel can be sorted with the touch of a button from our phones.

To rebuild our NHS, we have to make sure it reflects the society it serves. That’s why our 10 Year Health Plan will bring it into the digital age by opening up fairer and more convenient access to healthcare. Through our new app – a digital front door for your care – parents will be able to keep track of their children’s health through an online ‘red book’ fit for the 21st century, and we will put a stop to patients having to endlessly repeat their medical history thanks to a single patient record.

Our Plan for Change promised to make our NHS fit for the future and that’s what we are getting on with delivering – fixing the foundations of our health service and making sure it will be there to look after us for decades to come.

This is one major arm of the technological innovation at the heart of the 10 Year Health Plan launched today, which also includes introducing the single patient record, rolling out AI scribes to take notes for clinicians, using generative AI to create the first draft of care plans, and introducing single sign-on for NHS software.

The government’s 10 Year Health Plan sets out the fundamental reforms we will deliver to address the challenges facing the health service in the face of inherited underinvestment and neglect and the evolving needs of a modern society.

Speaking at the launch of the plan today, the PM set out how the plan will deliver 3 key shifts to make the NHS fit for the future:

• hospital to community
• analogue to digital
• sickness to prevention

Through fundamental reforms to rewire the NHS around these shifts, the plan will deliver the government’s pledge to cut waiting lists, improve healthcare for everyone wherever they live, and ensure the NHS is equipped to look after us for decades to come.

This historic transformation will fundamentally change the future of healthcare and it will be underpinned by a new single patient record. This will finally bring together all of a patient’s medical records into one place, so patients do not have to repeat their medical history to each clinician they see. The single patient record will make sure patients get seamless care no matter who they are being treated by in the NHS.

Two-thirds of outpatient appointments – which currently cost in total £14 billion a year – will be replaced by automated information, digital advice, direct input from specialists and patient-initiated follow-ups through the NHS App.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

The NHS App will become a ‘doctor in your pocket’, bringing our health service into the 21st century.

Patients who can afford to pay for private healthcare can get instant advice, remote consultations with a doctor, and choose where and when their appointments will be. Our reforms will bring those services to every patient, regardless of their ability to pay.

The 10 Year Health Plan will keep every patient fully informed of their healthcare and make using the NHS as easy and convenient as doing your banking or shopping online. It will deliver a fundamental shift in the way people access their care – from analogue to digital.

A new single patient record will bring an end to the frustration of repeating your medical history to different doctors. Instead, health and care professionals will have your record in one handy place, so they can give you the best possible care.

Through our Plan for Change, this government is shifting care to digital and delivering an NHS which is truly fit for the future.

The government will make the single patient record possible through new legislation that places a duty on every health and care provider to make the information they record about a patient available in the single patient record.

We will also legislate to give patients access to their record by default. From 2028, patients will be able to view it securely on the NHS App. Over time, that data will include not only medical records, but a personalised account of health risk, drawing from lifestyle, demographic and genomic data – helping catch problems early before they develop, and prevent people from poor health.

The single patient record is designed as Critical National Infrastructure. This means it will be built and maintained to meet the highest levels of security, equivalent to those used for the UK’s most vital systems, such as energy and transport networks. Health and care professionals treating and caring for a patient will have secure access to their record – patients can control who else they share it with and will have a robust audit trail of who has accessed their record.

Sir Jim Mackey, Chief Executive at NHS England, said:

The NHS App will be at the heart of the tech transformation we’re planning for the NHS to give people much more ownership of their healthcare – all from wherever they are at the tap of a screen.

Millions of us already have the app downloaded on our phones and the improvements we’re introducing as part of the 10 Year Health Plan, from booking appointments and speaking to clinicians online to seeing all your medical records in one place, will make the NHS App the digital front door to the NHS.

A My Health tool will include real-time data from wearables, biometric sensors or smart devices and will connect to relevant NHS data too – whether that is the results of recent tests at home or in a neighbourhood health centre. Wearables will be able to feed vital data into the app such as step count, heart rate and sleep quality, to provide tailored, personal health advice. The single patient record will have robust security controls.

And a new My NHS GP tool will harness AI to direct people to the most appropriate and timely care they need. In some cases, it will advise on self-care – and help direct patients to well-evidenced consumer healthcare products. In others, it might direct to a community pharmacy, a neighbourhood health centre or to emergency care.

Over the course of the plan, the features set to be developed through the NHS App will include:

• My NHS GP – book a remote or face-to-face appointment and receive personalised health advice using a new AI tool
• My Specialist – self-refer when clinically appropriate and leave a question for a specialist to answer
• My Consult – connect with a clinician for a remote consultation
• My Medicines – manage repeat prescriptions for delivery or collection and receive reminders
• My Care – book and manage appointments, enrol in a clinical trial and access the single patient record
• My Companion – get information about a health condition or procedure and ask AI or a clinician a question
• My Choices – find the nearest pharmacy, the best providers and leave feedback on services
• My Vaccines – see when vaccines are up to date and book appointments to get them organised, and find travel vaccine information
• My Health – bring data like blood pressure, heart rate and glucose levels together, and include real-time data from wearables or smart devices
• My Children – a digitised ‘red book’, where parents can get advice and support for parents throughout childhood
• My Carer – securely prove you are a carer, book appointments and talk to your loved one’s care team

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, said:

It’s clear that technology is set to transform many aspects of our lives for the better over the next decade, including the delivery of healthcare and how we interact with the NHS.

The potential of the NHS App, for example, is truly exciting, but we must also ensure that no one is left behind, including the many millions of older people who are not online and who often want and need to use more traditional means of communication, such as telephone and face to face.

The government’s commitment to a digitally inclusive approach is really important in building public trust. It is also essential for the NHS’s promise of being equally accessible to continue to hold true in our increasingly digital world. The voluntary sector can certainly help by supporting people who are not digital natives and at Age UK we look forward to playing our part in this way.

Julian David, CEO of techUK, said:

We welcome today’s announcement as a landmark moment in the digital transformation of the NHS. The enhanced NHS App marks a bold step forward in putting citizens at the centre of their care, empowering patients with the same ease, accessibility and control we expect from modern digital services.

Ongoing and meaningful engagement with the tech sector will be essential to delivering this transformation at scale. techUK will continue to work with government, NHS bodies and our members to ensure this transformation is inclusive, secure and future-ready.

Boosting the app will not only benefit those managing their healthcare digitally but will also free up capacity in traditional healthcare routes and provide more access to care and appointments – freeing up phone lines so calls are answered on time and freeing up GPs’ capacity to offer face-to-face appointments.

The government will aim to empower and upskill everyone to feel confident using the NHS App so that they can benefit from the additional access to services and the greater convenience the app will bring.

The government will continue a partnership with libraries and other community organisations to set people up on the app, with ‘show and tells’ to teach them how to use it and reap the benefits – this will be alongside ongoing work across government to improve access to technology and boost confidence among groups that have previously struggled.

Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said:

The foundations for a healthy life are laid in childhood, so an ambition of creating the healthiest generation of children yet is an important step towards tackling the deep inequalities in their healthcare.

I have long called for a child’s ‘red book’ to be digitised, so this is a really welcome move. Taken with plans currently going through Parliament to develop a unique childhood identifier, will vastly improve how we protect and care for the most vulnerable children, with fewer in danger of falling through gaps in services.

Children tell me that when they need additional support, they want it in one place, so creating neighbourhood services that bring different professionals under one roof will make a practical difference in their lives, as will increasing access to GPs and dentists.

Andrew Davies, Executive Director of Digital Health, Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI), said:

This transformation of the NHS App is an important milestone for healthcare delivery. A single, secure platform to access a range of services, digital tools and therapeutics, and connect devices, will enable patients to more effectively engage with their care.

This plan showcases how HealthTech can drive a more efficient, personalised and accessible NHS, which in turn will free up time for clinicians to focus on care where it is needed most. Our members look forward to working with the NHS and government to ensure these digital tools are implemented successfully and deliver meaningful benefits for patients across the country.

Rachel Power, Chief Executive of the Patients Association, said:

We welcome the government’s ambition to expand the NHS App as a central part of the 10 Year Health Plan. It could deliver the fundamental change patients have asked for in their interactions with the NHS, including the ability to manage their appointments, self-refer to vital services and, in 3 years’ time, be able to view their health records through the single patient record.

Our work with patients shows that those using the app often feel more in control and more satisfied with their care. But with nearly 1 in 4 still facing barriers to digital access, we must ensure that innovation doesn’t come at the cost of inclusion. If the NHS App is to become the digital front door, there must always be a real-world, accessible front door as well, with face-to-face or telephone options in place for those who need or want them. True progress means making the system work for everyone.

Professor Habib Naqvi, Chief Executive of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, said:

We need a more focused and systematic approach to tackling health inequalities and addressing unacceptable variation in healthcare amongst our communities. A key enabler for this endeavour is digital tools. The transformation of the NHS App has the potential to lead to a more efficient, agile and technologically enabled NHS – an NHS that will deliver care quicker and closer to where people live. The app will empower people and transform the way the public receives healthcare and engages with NHS services. The Observatory will help ensure this shift, in the way healthcare is provided, benefits all communities equitable.

Jacob Lant, Chief Executive of National Voices, said:

Technology is moving at a blistering pace and, quite simply, the NHS has failed to keep up. So the increased emphasis on the app and other digital services is welcome, especially where it can help the NHS meet expectations that have become commonplace in other sectors.

Critically, the plan recognises there will always be patients with more complex needs and commits to using the resource freed up by digital innovations to continue offering more traditional forms of access to those who need it.

Richard Stubbs, Chair of the Health Innovation Network, said:

It is right that the 10 Year Health Plan will establish the digital and data foundations of the NHS to realise the potential of health innovation in empowering patients, better supporting the NHS workforce and driving economic growth in every community.

The Health Innovation welcomes the focus on AI, expansion of the NHS App and the commitment to a single patient record, all of which will involve innovation partnerships to deliver change to local services, that will have a national impact.

The 15 health innovation networks across England look ahead to operationalising these plans and working with our partners to find, test and implement at scale innovations that improve patient outcomes, increase NHS productivity and reduce waiting lists, while delivering economic growth. If we get this right we will not only greatly increase outcomes and satisfaction for our patients, but we will also boost our essential life sciences sector and, as our Defining the Size of the Health Innovation Prize report found, add up to £278 billion a year to the UK economy.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 2 July 2025.

The Prime Minister launches a new era for the NHS, bringing more easily accessible care closer to home.

• Prime Minister launches government’s 10 Year Health Plan to bring the NHS closer to home
• Neighbourhood health services to be rolled out across the country, bringing diagnostics, mental health, post-op, rehab and nursing to people’s doorsteps
• Neighbourhood health centres will house services under one roof, open at evenings and weekends
• Plan for Change will rebuild the NHS to train thousands more family doctors, transform hospital outpatient appointments and provide personalised care plans for complex needs

Millions of patients will be treated and cared for closer to their home by new teams of health professionals, Prime Minister Keir Starmer will set out today (3 July 2025), as the government’s Plan for Change delivers a brand-new era for the NHS and delivers one of the most seismic shifts in care in the history of the health service.

The launch of a neighbourhood health service will see pioneering teams, some based entirely under one roof, set up in local communities across the country, to dramatically improve access to the NHS. As part of the government’s aim to shift care out of hospitals and into the community, they will free up overstrained hospitals from perpetual firefighting so they can focus on delivering only the best, most cutting-edge and personalised care.

These neighbourhood health centres will provide easier, more convenient access to a full range of healthcare services right on people’s doorsteps – stopping them from having to make lengthy trips to hospitals. Neighbourhood teams will include staff like nurses, doctors, social care workers, pharmacists, health visitors, palliative care staff and paramedics. Community health workers and volunteers will play a pivotal role in these teams, and local areas will be encouraged to trial innovative schemes like community outreach door-to-door – to detect early signs of illness and reduce pressure on GPs and A&E.

Launching the government’s 10 Year Health Plan today, the Prime Minister will set out how moving care from hospitals to the community is one of the 3 key shifts required to tackle the inherited challenges and neglect of the NHS, make sure it is equipped to look after a modern society, and ensure people feel the change and improvements in healthcare that they voted for.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

The NHS should be there for everyone, whenever they need it.

But we inherited a health system in crisis, addicted to a sticking plaster approach, and unable to face up to the challenges we face now, let alone in the future.

That ends now. Because it’s reform or die. Our 10 Year Health Plan will fundamentally rewire and future-proof our NHS so that it puts care on people’s doorsteps, harnesses game-changing tech and prevents illness in the first place.

That means giving everyone access to GPs, nurses and wider support all under one roof in their neighbourhood – rebalancing our health system so that it fits around patients’ lives, not the other way round.

This is not an overnight fix, but our Plan for Change is already turning the tide on years of decline with over 4 million extra appointments, 1,900 more GPs and waiting lists at their lowest level for 2 years.

But there’s more to come. This government is giving patients easier, quicker and more convenient care, wherever they live.

The plan follows Lord Darzi’s diagnosis of the challenges facing the NHS last year where he assessed it was in a ‘critical condition’ as a result of deep rooted issues including low productivity, poor staff morale, a failure to keep up with new technology, rising waiting times and a deterioration in the health of the nation.

The PM will set out how the plan will deliver 3 key shifts to get the NHS back on its feet: hospital to community; analogue to digital; and sickness to prevention. Built around these 3 principles, the reforms within the plan will deliver the government’s promise to stop rising waiting lists, deliver more convenient care and tackle inequalities across the country.

New health centres will house the neighbourhood teams, which will eventually be open 12 hours a day, 6 days a week within local communities. They will not only bring historically hospital-based services into the community – diagnostics, post-operative care and rehab – but will also offer services like debt advice, employment support and stop smoking or weight management, all of which will help tackle issues which we know affect people’s health.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

Our 10 Year Health Plan will turn the NHS on its head, delivering one of the most fundamental changes in the way we receive our healthcare in history.

By shifting from hospital to community, we will finally bring down devastating hospital waiting lists and stop patients going from pillar to post to get treated.

This government’s Plan for Change is creating an NHS truly fit for the future, keeping patients healthy and out of hospital, with care closer to home and in the home.

The status quo of ‘hospital by default’ will end, with a new preventative principle that care should happen as locally as it can: digital-by-default, in a patient’s home where possible, in a neighbourhood health centre when needed, in a hospital if necessary. This approach will make access to healthcare more convenient for patients and easier to fit around their day-to-day lives, rather than disrupting people’s work and personal lives.

Thousands more GPs will be trained under the 10 Year Health Plan, as the government lays the groundwork to bring back the family doctor, end the 8am scramble and make it easier to see your GP when you need to instead of having to turn to A&E.

The government inherited an analogue NHS, reliant on paper and fax machines and out of step with modern technology. The government’s plan will bring it into the digital age, making sure staff benefit from the advantages and efficiencies available from new technology. This includes rolling out groundbreaking new tools over the next 2 years to support GPs. AI scribes will end the need for clinical notetaking, letter drafting and manual data entry to free up clinicians’ time to focus on treating patients. Saving just 90 seconds on each GP appointment can save the same time as adding 2,000 more doctors into general practice.

The government will also use digital telephony so all phone calls to GP practices are answered quickly. For those who need it, they will get a digital or telephone consultation the same day they request it.

As it stands, some practices are struggling to keep up with an ageing population and 21st century health needs. New contracts will be introduced which encourage and allow practices to cover a wider geographical area. It means smaller practices in the catchment area will get more support to ensure the right access is in place so that everyone can access their GP when they need to.

Sir James Mackey, Chief Executive, NHS England, said:

The neighbourhood health service is a huge opportunity for us to transform how we deliver care over the next decade – starting right on people’s doorsteps.

By bringing together a full range of clinicians as one team, we can deliver care that’s more accessible, convenient and better for patients, as well as reducing pressures on hospitals.

The plan will also deliver on the government’s promise to tackle the current lottery of access to dentists. Dental care professionals will work as part of neighbourhood teams, where dental therapists could undertake check-ups, treatment and referrals, while dental nurses could give education and advice to parents or work with schools and community groups. The work therapists cannot do would be safely directed to dentists.

Under the plan, it will also be a requirement for newly qualified dentists to practise in the NHS for a minimum period, intended to be 3 years.

Following the government’s work already to roll out supervised toothbrushing for kids, the plan will also improve access to dental care for children, making better use of the wider dental workforce, especially dental therapists, including through a new approach to upskilling professionals to work at the top of their clinical potential, beginning in 2026 to 2027. This includes proposals to allow dental nurses to administer fluoride varnish for children in between check-ups, and the greater use of fissure sealants for children – covering back teeth with thin plastic coating to keep germs and food particles out of the grooves.

Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation, said:

This is a vital step towards a more preventative, community-based NHS. Bringing care closer to people’s homes through blended neighbourhood health teams recognises the complex and interconnected challenges many patients face, and it is the right direction for both improving outcomes and alleviating pressure on hospitals.

In many areas of the country, general practices working at scale through primary care networks and GP federations are already partnering alongside other organisations to deliver joined-up care. It will be important to build on these positive successes.

Delivering on this ambition will require sustained investment in digital and estates, support for the NHS’s workforce, and a commitment to decentralise national control by empowering local leaders to do what is best for their populations. On behalf of our members, we are eager to work with the government to help turn this bold vision into lasting change.

With the 10 Year Health Plan, the majority of outpatient care will happen outside of hospitals by 2035, by transforming care in the community. New digital tools will allow GPs to refer patients quicker, and a wider range of services available on people’s doorsteps will mean less need to attend appointments in hospital for ophthalmology, cardiology, respiratory medicine and mental health.

As a result of this shift to community, hospitals will be able to focus on patients who need hospital care and get them seen on time again.

The government’s Plan for Change is already delivering action to cut waiting lists and fix the foundations of the NHS. Waiting lists are at their lowest level in 2 years, including the first drop in April for 17 years. An extra 4.2 million appointments have been delivered since July 2024 – over double the government’s target. Ten new surgical hubs have opened since January 2025, and 1,900 more GPs have been recruited since October 2024.

Background information

Where neighbourhood health teams have been trialled in England, they have significantly reduced hospital use. In Derby, integrated teams led to 2,300 fewer category 3 ambulance callouts and 1,400 fewer short hospital stays among the over 65 population within a year.

The Institute for Public Policy Research has already called for a neighbourhood NHS – arguing that a strong primary care sector has been shown to deliver better health outcomes, fewer hospital and emergency department trips, and more efficient healthcare spending.

As well as improving access to care for patients, the move to more care in the community will put the NHS back on the path to long-term financial sustainability. A recent study found that £100 spent on community care could achieve, on average, £131 in hospital savings.

Care plans are vital to seamless care within the community, but only 20% of people with a long-term condition have one. Through the 10 Year Health Plan, the government will set a new standard that, by 2027, 95% of people with complex needs have an agreed personal care plan. All care plans should be co-created with patients. This means neighbourhood teams can tailor care for specific patients, working with them and their loved ones to proactively manage their conditions instead of simply reacting and treating emerging issues, as is the case under the current system. This is especially important for people with complex needs who are likely to be managing multiple conditions.

Unpaid carers will be actively involved in care planning, with family, friends and carers agreeing decisions about care together where appropriate.

Stakeholder reaction

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, said:

A neighbourhood health service is at the heart of the NHS 10 Year Plan and it could be a game-changer for our older population if we get it right.

For far too long, healthcare in the community has been fragmented and hard to access and navigate for older people, so crucial opportunities to nip their emerging health problems in the bud get missed.

At Age UK we aspire to an NHS that proactively supports older people to stay as well as is possible for as long as possible, and if delivered well the neighbourhood health service really could help achieve it.

Daniel Elkeles, Chief Executive of NHS Providers, said:

This plan brings together 3 key ingredients for success. It provides a renewed focus on what good care will look like for people who depend on the NHS most by investing in GP and new neighbourhood services.

It’s a win for patients who will be better informed and empowered to direct their care as never before.

And it makes the NHS simpler, ensuring quicker decisions and innovations get to frontline services faster.

This is a recipe that offers the prospect of progress where previous plans have faltered.

That is a great starting point and all NHS providers will be keen to seize this opportunity to build a better health service that staff, patients and the public are once again proud of.

Jacob Lant, Chief Executive of National Voices, said:

The message in today’s plan is clear: for the NHS to thrive, services must start to organise themselves around how people and communities actually live their lives.

Whether it be through shifting services out of hospitals, making innovative and inclusive use of tech or simply doubling down on getting the basics right, like communicating better with patients, this drive towards user-centred care offers hope for a more efficient and sustainable health service that focuses on patient need and outcomes.

To ensure no communities are left behind, it is vital that neighbourhood health services look to develop this new offer in partnership with the voluntary sector and the full diversity of citizens that make up the communities they serve.

Gemma Peters, Chief Executive at Macmillan Cancer Support, said:

This vision to bring care closer to home is what both the public and the NHS need.

3.5 million people are living with cancer today, rising to 4 million by 2030. Without radical change, the NHS cannot meet this growing demand, or ensure that – whoever you are, wherever you live – you can access the care, support and treatment you need when you need it.

We welcome the government’s recognition that we now need to mobilise every part of the NHS, communities and the voluntary sector to make sure this plan succeeds.

Macmillan is ready to play our part in delivering this vision and the forthcoming national cancer plan to ensure everyone has the world class healthcare they deserve.

Rachel Power, Chief Executive of the Patients Association, said:

We welcome this ambitious transformation set out in the 10 Year Health Plan that delivers on what we called for: integrated, accessible care that is centred on patients’ real lives. Having new neighbourhood health centres open 12 hours a day, 6 days a week with multidisciplinary teams and clinical and support services under one roof addresses the reality that health challenges don’t exist in isolation.

We’re pleased to see the commitment to training thousands more GPs and look forward to a sustainable workforce strategy to support the delivery of these expanded services, along with clarity on how quickly these centres will be rolled out. We remain committed to ensuring genuine patient partnership underpins the design and delivery of these services, so they truly reflect what patients need in their local communities.

Dr Jeanette Dickson, Chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, said:

The ambition, scale and innovative approaches set out in the 10 Year Health Plan can only be applauded. It promises a lot and, properly implemented, offers an opportunity to revolutionise healthcare.

It’s clearly not just about getting the NHS back on track, but designing a new healthcare system that’s fit for the challenges of today and tomorrow and one that can work for patients, staff and taxpayers alike. The sheer breadth and scale of what’s been set out will take time to fully digest, but the medical royal colleges are keen and ready to help implement the necessary changes to make this bold vision a reality.

Duleep Allirajah, Chief Executive of the Richmond Group of Charities, said:

We welcome the ambitions of this 10 Year Health Plan to transform care with more focus on prevention, community and digital. We need a radical shift from a siloed health and care system that reacts to crisis, to joined-up services that anticipate and prevent.

Neighbourhood health offers an historic opportunity to provide the kind of high-quality care that will inspire trust and confidence in the health service again. The voluntary sector has a vital role to play in this. Our 15 national charities, along with the wider voluntary sector, stand ready to play our part in transforming care and support for people.

Katharine Jenner, Director, Obesity Health Alliance, said:

This is a positive step towards the healthier future people want. Obesity is a chronic, relapsing condition that needs long-term support. Crucially, as the government now rightly recognises, we must also shift to preventing ill health before it starts.

After years of broken promises, delays and weak voluntary measures, this government must implement their Plan for Change in full this Parliament. Only then we can start to transform our food system – from one that fuels poor health to one that supports good health.

Real progress means taking mandatory action to tackle the relentless marketing and promotion of unhealthy food, improving access to nutritious options and making healthy food affordable for everyone, right from the start of life.

Ravi Gurumurthy, CEO of Nesta, said:

Nye Bevan’s original vision for the NHS placed prevention at its heart. This plan takes important steps toward realising that ambition. The introduction of a new healthy food standard, alongside ending the sale of cigarettes are serious interventions that could substantially reduce cases of cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other diseases and narrow health inequalities.

The shift to a neighbourhood health service has the potential to deliver better care within communities and reduce avoidable hospital admissions.

Matthew Reed, Chief Executive of Marie Curie, said:

We are pleased to see the government place the needs of patients at the centre of their plan to reform the NHS, make clear commitments that will help fix the current crisis in palliative and end of life care for local communities, and set out a clear roadmap for creating an NHS that is fit for the future.

We look forward to working with them to ensure that additional NHS funding announced in the Spending Review transforms care in the community for people with a terminal illness.

Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive at the British Heart Foundation (BHF), said:

You can’t upgrade the nation’s health without tackling cardiovascular disease, one of the UK’s biggest killers.

Today’s ambitious plan lays the foundation for how we can stop more lives lost too soon to heart disease, prevent more heart attacks and strokes, and help more people live with healthier hearts for longer.

Henry Gregg, Chief Executive of the National Pharmacy Association, said:

The 10,000 NHS pharmacies in England are right in the heart of their communities on high streets, in health centres, close to people’s doorsteps, providing healthcare and advice to millions every week.

Pharmacies want to be able to offer better, more joined-up care for their communities so they share the government’s ambition to bring care closer to people.

It’s important that pharmacies – who already do this work day in, day out – are placed at the heart of these plans.

Investing in pharmacies can create a future where people can drop in for treatment, check-ups, medicine reviews and advice.

Pharmacies want to work with GPs, social workers and colleagues across the health service to provide better healthcare nearer to people’s homes and take pressure off the NHS.

Janet Morrison, Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy England, said:

The government’s plan aligns well with the value that pharmacies can bring and will begin to harness the sector’s potential for the benefit of patients, communities and the wider NHS. Research shows that the public already supports community pharmacies playing a bigger role in healthcare services, and the sector has a unique ability to break down barriers to care coupled with an astonishingly strong record on efficiency.

But before this plan can become a reality, first the government must deliver on its commitment to build the sustainable funding model that community pharmacy so desperately needs. The millions of people relying on them every day don’t want to lose their local pharmacies to financial collapse, which is something the government should carefully consider as it seeks to implement its plan.

This plan is not the end of the road; it’s just the beginning.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 2 July 2025.

New ‘innovator passports’ will slash red tape so cutting-edge tech and treatments can be rolled out across the NHS quicker under the 10 Year Health Plan.

• Digital system will mean companies can innovate faster and patients can get pioneering tech as soon as it’s ready to be rolled out
• Will provide major boost to the life sciences sector, creating an NHS fit for the future under the Plan for Change

NHS patients across the country will get accelerated access to cutting edge technology through a new digital system that will cut red tape and boost life science.

A new ‘innovator passport’ – to be introduced over the next 2 years – will allow new technology that has been robustly assessed by one NHS organisation to be easily rolled out to others.

The move is a key part of the government’s Plan for Change and its 10 Year Health Plan, which will transfer power to patients and transform how healthcare is delivered, creating an NHS fit for the future.

For too long, cutting-edge businesses avoided working with the NHS and went elsewhere, weighed down by slow timelines and reams of processes. Now, organisations will be able to join up with the NHS quicker than ever before through the removal of needless bureaucracy. Not only is this better for patients but also for our NHS and economic growth.

A ‘one-stop shop’ thorough check from the NHS will now allow businesses to get to work as quickly as possible and deliver on what matters most to patients across the country. It means NHS patients will get more effective treatments and support quicker, and the NHS will make the most of its finite assessment resource, all while businesses are given a boost through the government’s industrial strategy.

Treatments including special wound dressings – already reducing surgical site infections by 38% at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals – could be adopted more widely, benefiting patients across the country.

At Barts Health NHS Trust in London, use of antimicrobial protective coverings for cardiac devices has cut infections and saved over £103,000 per year. At University Hospitals Dorset, adopting rapid influenza testing reduced bed days and antibiotic use, freeing up vital resources.

The new passport will eliminate multiple compliance assessments, reducing duplication across the health service. It will be delivered through MedTech Compass, a digital platform developed by DHSC to make effective technologies more visible and widely available.

MedTech Compass will make these innovations and the evidence underpinning them clear to buyers within the NHS.

The initiative builds on the government’s drive to slash waiting lists and ensure people have access to health and care when and where they need it under the Plan for Change.

Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said:

For too long, Britain’s leading scientific minds have been held back by needless admin that means suppliers are repeatedly asked for the same data in different formats by different trusts – this is bad for the NHS, patients and bad for business.

These innovator passports will save time and reduce duplication, meaning our life sciences sector – a central part of our 10 Year Health Plan – can work hand in hand with the health service and make Britain a powerhouse for medical technology.

Frustrated patients will no longer have to face a postcode lottery for lifesaving products to be introduced in their area, and companies will be able to get their technology used across the NHS more easily, creating a health service fit for future under the Plan for Change.

Dr Vin Diwakar, Clinical Transformation Director at NHS England, said:

We’re seeing the impact improvements to technology are having on our everyday lives on everything from smartwatches to fitness trackers – and we want to make sure NHS patients can benefit from the latest medical technology and innovations as well.

The new innovator passports will speed up the roll-out of new health technology in the NHS which has been proven to be effective, so that patients can benefit from new treatments much sooner.

It also forms an important element of the industrial strategy through the upcoming Life Sciences Sector Plan, which will turbocharge Britain’s life sciences sector and cement the UK’s position as a global innovation leader.

MedTech Compass helps speed up decision-making in trusts, allowing technology to scale faster – making it easier for trusts across the country to find, assess and adopt proven technologies that improve and speed up patient care.

The passports mean that once a healthcare tool has been assessed by one NHS organisation, further NHS organisations will not be able to insist on repeated assessments, reducing the need for local NHS systems to spend their limited resources on bureaucratic processes that have already been completed elsewhere.

The digital system will act as a dynamic best buyer’s guide, making it easier for trusts to compare products side-by-side in one place.

The press release issued by the Department for Health and Social Care on 25 June 2025.

The 10 Year Health Plan will set out how the government plans to tackle inequalities in people’s health through fundamental reforms to our health system.

• Billions freed up to move critical resources like medicines and equipment to regions that most need them
• Major changes to how GP funding is distributed to help working-class communities and coastal areas
• Health Secretary to speak in Blackpool on 10 Year Health Plan’s focus on closing health inequalities

People living in working-class communities and areas where medical resources are desperately needed are set to benefit from a huge boost in support, with billions of pounds diverted to deprived areas, as the government’s 10 Year Health Plan takes unprecedented action to tackle the nation’s stark health inequalities.

After years of neglect, areas where people need the NHS most often have the fewest GPs, the worst performing services and the longest waits – a phenomenon dubbed the ‘inverse care law’. People in working-class areas and coastal towns spend more of their lives in ill health, and life expectancy among women with the lowest incomes has fallen in recent years, after decades of progress.

The 10 Year Health Plan will set out how the government plans to rebuild the NHS and tackle widening inequalities in people’s health through fundamental reforms to our health system, putting an end to a postcode lottery of care.

In recent months, the NHS has driven trusts and integrated care boards (ICBs) hard to cut out wasteful spending and tackle projected deficits. By driving out the culture of deficits, around £2.2 billion previously set aside for deficit support will be freed up, so it can be reinvested in critical resources like staff, medicines, new technology and equipment where they are most needed. This will support millions of people in parts of England that have historically been left behind, such as in rural communities, coastal towns and working-class communities.

The Health Secretary will announce the change during a speech in the North West.

Speaking in the North West today [25 June], Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, is expected to say:

The truth is, those in greatest need often receive the worst quality healthcare. It flies in the face of the values the NHS was founded on. The circumstances of your birth shouldn’t determine your worth. A core ambition of our 10 Year Plan will be to restore the promise of the NHS, to provide first class healthcare for everyone in our country and end the postcode lottery.

Last year we sent crack teams of top clinicians to hospitals in parts of the country with the highest waiting lists and levels of economic inactivity. It has seen waiting lists in those areas falling twice as fast as the rest of the country, helping get sick Brits back to health and back to work.

Thanks to the reforms we’ve made to bear down on wasteful spending, we can now invest the savings in working-class communities that need it most. Where towns have the greatest health needs and the fewest GPs, we will prioritise investment to rebuild your NHS and rebuild the health of your community.

Over the past 14 years, NHS trusts have relied heavily on deficit support, with the taxpayer forced to cover the shortfall in their budgets, even when finances have been managed badly. Since becoming NHS England Chief Executive, Jim Mackey has driven down billions in planned deficits, cutting out spending on agency staff and back office costs.

This year, the £2.2 billion in deficit support funding will not go to systems that fail to meet their agreed financial plans. Deficit support funding will be phased out entirely from financial year 2026 to 2027, with no more reward for failure. Instead, the government will introduce a transparent financial regime for this year that properly holds leaders to account over financial plans. Struggling trusts will be required to set out activity and costs so they can take steps to improve. The tougher financial regime will free up funding that will be reinvested in frontline services in working-class communities.

The government’s 10 Year Health Plan will also address the inequalities in GP services across England. Currently, GP surgeries that serve working-class areas receive on average 10% less funding per patient than practices in more affluent areas. Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) data shows that practices in some of the country’s poorest areas have roughly 300 more patients per GP than the most affluent regions.

Through the 10 Year Health Plan, the government will review the formula through which GP funding is allocated across the nation, so working-class areas receive their fair share of resources.

Dr Amanda Doyle, NHS England National Director for Primary Care and Community Services, said:

It is essential that GP practices serving our most deprived communities, where health challenges are often greatest, receive a fair share of resources that reflects their need.

The NHS is committed to ensuring people can access the help they need as quickly and easily as possible, and ensuring funding reflects this will help us to do just that.

This work will look at how health needs are reflected in the distribution of funding through the GP contract, drawing on evidence and advice from experts such as the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA), and in consultation with the GP committee of the British Medical Association (BMA) and other stakeholders.

The government has already sent top doctors to support hospital trusts in areas where more people are out of work and waiting for treatment. The crack teams have been sent into NHS hospitals serving communities with high levels of economic inactivity, helping trusts go further and faster to improve care in these areas, where more people are neither employed nor actively seeking work for reasons including ill health.

Earlier this year, the government struck a new agreement with the independent sector as part of the government’s plans to end the hospital waiting list backlog, giving patients in more deprived areas, where NHS provision is more limited, a greater choice over where they are treated.

This comes after the Health and Social Care Secretary announced a series of new measures to tackle inequalities in maternity care earlier this week. The rapid national investigation will provide truth and accountability for impacted families and drive urgent improvements to care and safety. It will also focus on inequalities in maternal care, which see Black women almost 3 times as likely to die from childbirth as White women.

Jacob Lant, Chief Executive of National Voices, said:

Lord Darzi said in his review last summer that the inverse care law was still very real, with those who need the NHS the most often living in areas that have gotten the least investment.

The NHS 10 Year Plan needs to turn this completely on its head if the government is to achieve its election promise on health inequalities and halve the gap in healthy life expectancy between different communities by 2035.

Shifting the money is only half the battle. We need to see outcomes on health inequalities used as one of the key success measures for NHS leaders as a new culture of accountability is developed post publication of the plan.

Councillor Louise Gittins, Chair of the Local Government Association, said:

Across the country, councils are working tirelessly to incorporate fairness into housing, employment and public health initiatives, often in the face of significant challenges.

Health inequalities are the stark and often unjust differences in health outcomes seen across various communities. These disparities may present themselves as variations in life expectancy, the prevalence of chronic diseases and access to healthcare services.

Addressing these issues requires concerted efforts and targeted support. Health inequalities are estimated to cost the NHS an extra £4.8 billion a year, society around £31 billion in lost productivity, and between £20 and £32 billion a year in lost tax revenue and benefit payments. Health is therefore a major determinant of economic performance and prosperity.

Councils are pivotal in addressing health inequalities. By collaborating closely with local communities, businesses and organisations, local authorities and the NHS, we can develop targeted interventions to improve health outcomes.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 25 June 2025.

The NHS App will be transformed so it gives every patient information, choice and control of their own healthcare.

• Upgraded NHS App will help tackle nation’s health inequalities and give patients access to the best care
• New tool will give everyone choice based on patient satisfaction, waiting times and healthcare outcomes
• Healthcare democratised through new tool, with information about conditions and procedures at the touch of a button

The NHS App will be transformed so it gives every patient – whatever their postcode or background – information, choice and control of their own healthcare so they have the best information at their fingertips, as the government’s 10 Year Health Plan closes the stark health inequalities faced by millions of people.

Under the current system, wealthier patients often have more information about the country’s hospitals and access to better care. The improved NHS App will democratise care, so everyone, including those from working class communities, has the information they need about their conditions or procedures they’re due to go through.

Using artificial intelligence (AI), the new My Companion tool will give patients direct access to trusted health information, so there are always 2 experts in every consulting room – the clinician and the patient. It will help patients articulate their health needs and preferences confidently – providing information about a health condition if they have one, or a procedure if they need one. It will support patients to ask questions, including any they may have forgotten about or felt too embarrassed to raise at an in-person appointment.

A new feature called My Choices will help people find everything from the location of their nearest pharmacy, to the best rated providers for heart, hip or knee surgery – all on the app. It will provide a range of data on providers across the country – such as which delivers the shortest waits, has the best patient outcomes, the best patient satisfaction scores, or is simply closest to home – so anyone, anywhere, can pick care based on their own preferences. People who just want to be sent to their local provider will be offered this as a default.

This will end the ‘one size fits all’ approach, which often misses the distinct needs of different people, including women, people from ethnic minority backgrounds or people who live in more rural communities, among many others.

It comes as the Health Secretary today unveiled a radical package of measures under the 10 Year Health Plan to tackle health inequalities, freeing up billions of pounds to move critical resources like medicines and equipment to the communities that most need them, alongside changes to the way GP funding is distributed to help working class communities and coastal areas.

Speaking in Blackpool today, Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said:

The NHS feels increasingly slow and outdated to the generation that organises their lives at the touch of a button. If you get annoyed at Deliveroo not getting your dinner to you in less than an hour, how will you feel being told to wait a year for a knee operation? A failure to modernise risks this generation walking away from the NHS, first for their healthcare, and then with their taxes.

People won’t accept paying higher and higher taxes to fund a health service that no longer meets their needs. And the lack of control people feel over their own lives is made worse by an analogue, ‘computer says no’, NHS. We can only close this inequality and shut down this risk to the NHS’s future, through a revolution in patient power.

The ambition of our 10 Year Health Plan is nothing less than to provide NHS patients with the same ease and convenience that’s afforded to private patients. The good news is that technology gives us the opportunity to democratise healthcare in a way never before possible. It can empower patients with choice and control and make managing our healthcare as convenient as doing our shopping or banking online.

Technology can be the great leveller. Look at what Martin Lewis, the Money Saving Expert, has done for personal finances. For ordinary people – who could never afford their own financial adviser – it is simple and easy to make your hard-earned money go further. Our 10 year plan for health will do the same for NHS patients – giving them easy access to information, to help them improve their health.

Dr Vin Diwakar, NHS National Director of Transformation, said:

The shift from analogue to digital set out in the 10 Year Health Plan will transform the services we offer through the NHS App, making it the single most important tool patients use to get health information and control their care.

These exciting reforms will be invaluable in combating health disparities and providing world-leading access to those who have not previously been able to get care on their own terms – by providing transparent data about services or supporting carers to manage the care of loved ones. We will co-design these with patients and carers to ensure that the app can be accessed by everyone.

All this and more will be available from your pocket, making controlling your own healthcare as easy as placing an online shopping order.

The government has already exceeded its target to increase the number of hospitals allowing patients to view appointment information on the NHS App up to 85% by the end of March 2025. This has now reached 87%, up from 68% in July 2024. It means millions of patients are already starting to benefit from greater choice and flexibility in the way they access healthcare.

Since July 2024, these features have saved almost 5.7 million hours of staff time, including 1.26 million clinical hours across health settings. Together with the 1.5 million missed appointments avoided, the shift to the NHS App has helped save the equivalent of £622 million.

The Health and Social Care Secretary also announced today that people from traditionally working-class communities, unpaid carers and over 50s will be among those supported onto the NHS career ladder, as the government’s Plan for Change tackles rampant health inequalities and gets Britain working. The government has confirmed a new pilot to recruit an initial 1,000 people from groups or areas worst hit by unemployment.

Backed by £5 million, the new recruitment scheme will target those who historically face barriers into employment, including:

• young people not in education or training
• unpaid carers
• care leavers
• people with special educational needs and disabilities
• people with long-term health conditions or disabilities
• ethnic minority groups with no or low level qualifications
• refugees
• asylum seekers
• prison leavers

Covering communities across the country, the programme may teach important skills to support a move into the health and care sector, alongside offering support with job applications and preparing for interviews. Participants will also have the opportunity to undertake a work placement in a local health and care employer.

Many will then move on to important roles, such as those in health support, facilities management, administration, nursing support and pharmacy support, kickstarting an exciting, long-term career within health and care.

Through our Plan for Change, this government is committed to raising living standards, driving growth and productivity, and tackling inequalities.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 24 June 2025.

Government to offer home testing kits as part of the cervical screening programme under the upcoming 10 Year Health Plan.

• Under-screened women to be offered convenient human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling kits under new 10 Year Health Plan
• Home kits offered to those who have missed their invite, making care more convenient and supporting our shift from treatment to prevention
• New initiative builds on the NHS’s personalised approach to cervical screening

Women and people with a cervix across England who haven’t come forward for vital health checks will be offered home testing kits as part of the cervical screening programme under the upcoming 10 Year Health Plan.

The ground-breaking initiative aims to revolutionise cervical cancer prevention rates by tackling deeply entrenched barriers that keep some women away from potentially life-saving screenings, including a fear of discomfort, embarrassment, cultural sensitivities and the struggle to find time for medical appointments.

Women who have rarely or have never attended their cervical screening will be offered a self-sample kit to complete at home. The kits are then sent out in discreet packaging and returned via pre-paid mail in the local postbox.

Participation in cervical cancer screening currently sits at just 68.8% – well below the NHS England target of 80%. This means over 5 million women in England are not up-to-date with their routine check-up. But experts believe this targeted approach could increase participation in the screening programme that saves approximately 5,000 lives a year across England.

The initiative is part of the government’s upcoming 10 Year Health Plan – due to be published in the coming weeks – which sets out how the government plans to tackle the challenges facing the health service and build an NHS that is fit for the future by doing more to prevent ill health in the first place.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said:

These self-sampling kits represent healthcare that works around people’s lives, not the other way around. They put women firmly in control of their own health, ensuring we catch more cancers at their earliest, most treatable stages.

Our 10 Year Health Plan will fundamentally reform the NHS, shifting focus from treating illness to preventing it before it starts.

We know the earlier cancer is diagnosed, the better the chances are of survival. By making screening more convenient, we’re tackling the barriers that keep millions of women from potentially life-saving tests.

The self-testing kits, which detect HPV, a group of viruses that can lead to cervical cancer, allow women to carry out this testing in the privacy and convenience of their own homes.

Michelle Kane, NHS Director of Vaccination and Screening Delivery and Transformation, said:

There are a number of reasons that stop some women taking up the offer of screening and we hope the introduction of self-testing will encourage more women to take up this life-saving test in a way that works for them.

I’d encourage anyone who gets an invite for a cervical screening, either from their local GP practice or the NHS App, to attend and if you have any worrying symptoms, please contact your GP. It could save your life.

The programme specifically targets those groups consistently missing vital appointments, with younger women, ethnic minority communities facing cultural hurdles, people with a disability and LGBT+ people all set to benefit.

Anyone testing positive for HPV through self-sampling will be encouraged to attend a clinician-taken follow-up cervical screening test to check for cervical cell changes.

Athena Lamnisos, Chief Executive of the Eve Appeal, said:

There are so many different reasons why those who are eligible aren’t responding to their cervical screening invitation letter.

HPV self-testing will be a step change for some. Being able to do the test in their own time and following simple instructions is what many people want and need. Ensuring that the under-screened and never-screened know about this new test is vital for Eve.

As the leading gynae cancer prevention charity, we know how vital it is to address health inequalities and make sure that everyone knows that this test is available to them and why it’s important.

Michelle Mitchell, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, said:

Screening is a powerful tool to prevent cervical cancer and save lives, but we know it isn’t always easy for everyone to take part. For some, the test may seem uncomfortable, embarrassing or simply hard to fit into their lives. That’s why we welcome the UK government’s decision to roll out cervical cancer home screening kits in England – to help remove barriers and make cervical screening more accessible.

The gold standard way to test for HPV is still a sample taken by a clinician and this will be suitable for most people. But beating cervical cancer means beating it for everyone, and this move helps to bring us closer to that goal. It’s important to remember that cervical screening is for people without symptoms so, if you notice any unusual changes for you, do not wait for a screening invitation – speak to your doctor.

This approach builds on the NHS’s recent announcement to make cervical cancer screening more personalised. From July, women aged 25 to 49 who test negative for HPV in a clinician-taken test will be invited for their next test in 5 years rather than 3, following a recommendation by the UK National Screening Committee. The programme is in line with major clinical evidence that shows if a person tests negative for HPV they are extremely unlikely to go on to develop cervical cancer within the next decade. Anyone whose sample indicates the presence of HPV will continue to be invited to more frequent screenings.

Digital invitations and reminders for cervical screening were also recently rolled out as part of the NHS App’s ‘ping and book’ service to make screenings even more convenient, boost uptake and save lives.

Through our Plan for Change, the government is cutting waiting times for cancer patients, with 99,000 extra patients having had cancer diagnosed or ruled out since July than in the previous year. In February, the highest ever proportion of patients had a diagnosis or an all clear within 4 weeks.

Dr Anita Lim, Chief Investigator of the YouScreen trial and Visiting Senior Research Fellow at King’s College London, said:

This is a significant step forward for cervical cancer prevention and brings us closer to the NHS goal of eliminating the disease by 2040. The YouScreen trial, which provided self-sampling HPV kits to under-screen women in London, demonstrated that self-sampling could reach people who find it difficult to attend traditional screening, including those from diverse and underserved populations.

It’s hugely positive to see this now reflected in national policy, helping more people get protected from this highly preventable cancer.

Gem, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2015, said:

My cervical cancer was picked up during a routine screening by my GP. I was referred for surgery to remove the cancer cells, as well as lymph nodes from my abdomen and pelvis.

It took me about 6 weeks to recover, and because it was caught early and hadn’t spread, I was told at my follow-up appointment that I was cancer-free and didn’t require further treatment.

I’ve been cancer-free for years now, but I still live with the aftermath of my diagnosis. I hope that one day we live in a world where cervical cancer is eliminated. With advances in vaccines and screening, I believe that day is getting ever closer.

For many, though, there are barriers to attending screening. Our everyday lives are busy juggling jobs, family life and more, which can make attending appointments difficult. But feelings of embarrassment, fear or unease can also prevent people from going.

Making it easier for people to access screening they can do at home removes some of those barriers and will, I’m sure, save lives.

If I hadn’t attended screening when I did, I’m certain I would have been facing a very different outcome. I will always be thankful that I went when I did and now try to use my experience to help others.