James Naish, MP for Rushcliffe, has welcomed the government’s new 10-Year Health Plan, which will bring healthcare closer to communities, ease pressure on hospitals and improve access to vital NHS services for people across Nottinghamshire.
The plan sets out a bold vision for reform, focused on three key shifts: moving care from hospitals into communities; prioritising prevention over treatment; and using digital tools to improve patient experience.
Speaking from a GP practice on Thursday morning, James said: “This is something that we’ve all been waiting for a long time – a proper plan to get the NHS functioning like it did in the early 2000s. We all know that the NHS has been under intense pressure for a long time, and we need to make sure that it’s there when Rushcliffe residents really need it.”
A key part of the plan is the creation of Neighbourhood Health Services where teams of GPs, therapists, social care staff and community support workers will work together under one roof, offering services such as diagnostics, post-operative care and rehab alongside help with debt, employment and weight management. These health centres will eventually open 12 hours a day, six days a week.
James Naish said: “It’s a huge transformation. It will take time to deliver but the aim is to free-up hospitals so that they can focus on delivering better care for those who need it in that particular setting.”
Nottinghamshire has already trialled Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs) in Mansfield, Ashfield and Newark & Sherwood. These teams will now expand further to deliver same-day services and more urgent care in the community.
Local GP services will also see improvements. Of the 126 GP practices in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, 99 have received NHS England funding to modernise services including better phone systems, online booking and increased use of the NHS App, aiming to end the frustrating 8am rush for appointments.
Dental care reforms are also included in the Plan, with new measures to improve access to NHS services, particularly for children. Dental therapists will be empowered to offer more treatments, while dental nurses will deliver preventive care in schools and community settings. Newly-trained dentists will also be required to work for the NHS for at least 3 years.
James Naish added: “This 10-Year Health Plan is focused on people, prevention and local access. I’m particularly encouraged by the early progress we’ve made in Nottinghamshire with neighbourhood teams and GP service upgrades. For Rushcliffe residents, this means shorter waits, more convenient care closer to home, and a stronger focus on staying well – not just getting treated when things go wrong.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Our 10 Year Health Plan will fundamentally rewire and future-proof our NHS so that it puts care on people’s doorsteps, harnesses game-changing tech and prevents illness in the first place.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting added: “By shifting from hospital to community, we will finally bring down devastating hospital waiting lists and stop patients going from pillar to post to get treated.”
James Naish concluded: “This is an important step towards building a stronger, more responsive NHS for people in every part of Rushcliffe. I’ll continue to push for policies that bring healthcare closer to home for all our communities.”
