Our response to NHS England's update to the Five Year Forward View
It's encouraging to see that the starting point has been what people said they want from the future of their health and care services.
NHS England has today published an update to their Five Year Forward View plan. As well as measuring progress since 2014, the plan also sets out the changes that will take place across health and care services over the next few years.
Responding to the plan, Imelda Redmond, National Director of Healthwatch England, said:
"This plan always needed to be ambitious yet realistic about the challenges the NHS faces, and there were always going to be some tough decisions set out.
"It's encouraging to see that the starting point has been what people said they want from the future of their health and care services.
"By drawing on the insight gathered by the Healthwatch network, built out of the conversations our staff and volunteers have with hundreds of thousands of people every year, the NHS plan directly reflects people's priorities such as faster and more flexible access to primary care and a significant focus on improving mental health support.
"And while no one in pain should have to wait longer for an operation, being pragmatic about some waiting targets will undoubtedly free up resources to help the NHS reprioritise to meet people's most pressing needs. What we need is for patients and their families to speak to their local Healthwatch, tell us how any increase in waiting times is affecting them and help us ensure that 18 weeks doesn't slip back to 18 months.
"These sorts of tough choices are having to be made all across the country as the new sustainability and transformation plans come in. We know that local Healthwatch have been offering advice to those in charge on how to really involve their local communities. But it is great to see such strong messages coming from the top on the need for professionals and the public to work together as equal partners in the big decisions ahead."
