Local health leaders have proposed the creation of a new group to explore how the national NHS 10-year-plan can bring health services closer to communities.
Knowsley’s Health and Wellbeing Board met this week to discuss the local implications of the NHS ‘Fit for the Future: 10 Year Health Plan for England’. Members proposed the establishment of a new policy implementation group which would translate the national plan into a practical strategy tailored to the needs of Knowsley’s communities.
The national plan outlines three fundamental shifts in healthcare, and the new Knowsley group will focus on how to best implement these changes locally:
- From hospital to community care: The plan aims to bring more health services directly into neighbourhoods. This shift involves creating Neighbourhood Health Services and Neighbourhood Health Centres, which will provide a wide range of integrated care and support closer to where people live.
- From analogue to digital services: The NHS is set to become more technologically advanced, with a single patient record and a powerful NHS App that will give residents more control over their healthcare. Knowsley will explore how to harness these digital tools to streamline services and improve patient access.
- From sickness to prevention: The new strategy moves beyond treating illness and focuses on proactively keeping people healthy. This includes initiatives to improve health outcomes, support employment, and combat public health issues like obesity. The Knowsley group will explore how to align these goals with existing local strategies, such as the Knowsley Better Together and Knowsley 2030 plans.
The new implementation group, which will report to the Knowsley Healthier Together Board, will work with partners to ensure a cohesive and effective approach.
A key local priority is to improve access to essential services like GP and dental care. The new group will also consider a focus on women’s healthcare and early intervention for children.
About the Knowsley Health and Wellbeing Board
The Knowsley Health and Wellbeing Board is a partnership forum responsible for promoting integrated working between local health, social care, public health, and other services to improve the health and wellbeing of Knowsley residents.