Four things people want from the 10-Year NHS Plan

Based on recent trends in public feedback, our submission to the 10-Year Health Plan set out four priorities for patients, their families, and their carers.  

1. Putting patients first 

The Government has set out three shifts to help reform the NHS over the next decade. These are: 

• Moving more care from hospitals to communities.
• Making better use of technology and shifting from an analogue to a digital NHS.
• Focusing on preventing sickness before people need treatment. 

These shifts align with what lots of people want to see from the NHS in England, with easy access being the main thing people tell Healthwatch they want. 

However, people’s needs, preferences, and choices must underpin these shifts. This includes a choice of where to be treated and options for digital and offline communications and services from NHS teams. 

Choice of care 

Giving people choice in healthcare means listening to, respecting, and prioritising their needs, which can get them the help they need, boost their perception of the NHS, and restore their confidence in the health service.

The NHS Constitution sets out the right for people to be involved in making decisions about their care, along with rights to have preferences met, and the right to choose where they receive healthcare.  

However, people have shared that many NHS decisions feel weighted too far towards what works for teams delivering care. Although it is right that policies and reforms give NHS staff the support they need, this cannot be at the expense of people accessing the care they need in the way they need it. 

People’s choice is often not just a matter of personal preference but essential to access due to communication requirements, affordability, or work or caring commitments.   

“I haven’t had my hip replacement yet – on a waiting list. But I’ve been amazed that I’ve been able to choose to have my op at a local private hospital on NHS, 20 minutes from my home. The alternative was to travel to the NHS unit 45 minutes away. Well done NHS, for giving me patient choice.” — Story shared with Healthwatch England 

People want flexibility in appointment types, times, and types of professionals they can see. 

Sometimes, they may choose continuity of care with the same professional, but on other occasions, they prefer to prioritise getting a quicker appointment.  

In some instances, continuity of care does not have to mean with a single professional, but rather that the patient feels a sense of continuous service from the NHS.

People are open-minded about seeing different services or professionals as long as they are informed about their options, these options are genuinely accessible, and they feel understood and listened to by whoever they see.