Moving power out of Westminster and back into our communities was a key manifesto pledge of this Labour Government, and the NHS 10 Year Health Plan for England does just that.
Our NHS is full of dedicated staff, working hard to provide the best care for our residents. However, persistent hollowing out and a lack of ambition from the previous government has resulted in people being stuck on waiting lists for years, causing huge suffering to families, a surge in unemployment and strain on other services.
Positive steps have been taken, delivering four million extra appointments, recruiting 1,500 GPs and investing in upgrades to hospitals – but there is so much more to do.
Transforming the health and wellbeing of our nation – one of the sickest populations in Western Europe – won’t be done in hospitals.
It will be done in communities, on the back of new partnerships between our health and local public services and, crucially, by creating agency and empowerment for residents.
We know that social determinants of ill health account for 80 per cent of the challenge.
That’s why forward-looking local councils such as mine have been leading the charge on prevention and the integration of local community care for years now.
Three shifts are at the heart of the NHS plan, with a key role for local government in each.
“Social determinants of ill health account for 80 per cent of the challenge”
The first, from hospital to community, acknowledges the crucial role that local healthcare providers play.
The second, from analogue to digital, is familiar to many councils across the country that have embarked on digital transformation journeys to make services more accessible and efficient.
The third is from sickness to prevention – as I’ve touched on, we have been championing the importance of preventative care in building healthy communities for decades.
The Government can rely on Labour Local Government to engage with the plan and continue to play their part for their residents.