Major new NHS plan vows to end ‘8am scramble’ for GP appointment
NHS plan vows to end ‘8am scramble’ for GP appointment
- The government announced a radical 10-year plan to overhaul the NHS, aiming to shift healthcare from hospitals to community and home-based services.
- The strategy outlines three major shifts: moving from analogue to digital services, prioritising prevention over treatment, and transitioning from hospital-centric care to community-based provision.
- By 2035, most outpatient services are expected to be delivered outside hospitals, with new neighbourhood health services providing diagnostics, post-operative care, and mental health support closer to communities.
- The plan includes training thousands more GPs, encouraging AI use for notes, and improving dental care access, including a requirement for newly-qualified dentists to practice in the NHS.
- The initiative seeks to reduce pressure on GPs and A&E, making healthcare more accessible and integrated into daily life, though experts raise concerns about funding and workforce shortages.