Blood Cancer UK’s response to the Government's 10 Year Health Plan
United Kingdom
The Government has committed to health as one of its five missions in Government. And after a year in office, they have launched a 10 Year Health Plan for England.
The Prime Minister has already set out three key areas for reform - the transition to a digital NHS, moving more care from hospitals to communities, and focusing efforts on prevention over sickness.
The 10 Year Health Plan includes:
- Neighbourhood Health Services to be rolled out across England, bringing diagnostic, nursing and rehabilitation services, among others to local communities, housed in new Neighbourhood Health Centres
- A Plan for Change to rebuild the NHS to train more GPs and transform hospital outpatient procedures and provide personalised care plans for complex needs
As we’re able to digest the detail of the Plan in the coming days and weeks, we will continue to make our assessment and update the blood cancer community.
Our view on the plan
Helen Rowntree, Chief Executive of Blood Cancer UK, said:
“We welcome the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan and recognition that strategic change is needed to address the challenges facing the NHS.
We’re all aware of the widespread issues in the health service that impact patients across all diseases. But for blood cancers in particular, the UK is falling behind the international standard in many and often in very basic ways such as staffing levels, availability of new drugs and opening of new clinical trials. Change is needed and we support this first step.
People with blood cancer have told us they want to access care closer to home. So, we welcome a Neighbourhood Health Service that can provide this where it is appropriate. However, it is important to recognise that blood cancers require extremely specialised hospital care and the NHS must support all patients, wherever they live, to access this.
We must also ensure good communication throughout, and that primary and specialist care is effectively coordinated.
This Government has talked ambitiously, but further details are needed. We look forward to hearing more about the ideas being prepared through the NHS Workforce Plan, National Cancer Plan for England and other strategies, through which we will continue to campaign on behalf of all those with blood cancer.”