Change NHS: 10 Year Health Plan - Help to shape a health service fit for the future

NHS, local authority and third sector staff are working harder than ever to get services back on track, to get waiting lists down and consistently deliver the best care.

We know change is needed. But we also know that many of the solutions we need are already here, working somewhere in the NHS today.

We in mid and south Essex have not shied away from this challenge. We are tackling it head on — redesigning how we deliver care, bringing treatment closer to home and really taking advantage of the latest technology and innovation.

On October 22nd we saw news of another state-of-the-art Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) in south Essex move a step closer to helping improve access to critical diagnostic services; this is in addition to progress to offer more services in Braintree and Thurrock. Earlier this year, the roll out of a shared care record has brought vital information together to transform how professionals work to deliver more holistic care.

Our staff are our greatest asset, so we know it is not just recovery we need to worry about — it is resilience too. Productivity does not mean asking our staff to do more but giving them the tools they need — whether it’s modern buildings, flexible working or better-connected tech — to work more efficiently, and therefore provide better, faster, safe care for patients.

That’s why we are playing our part in the launch the consultation for the 10-Year Health Plan alongside the government, and we want to hear from you — patients, their families and the wider public — about your NHS story.

Whether you have a little to say or a lot, your views, experiences and ideas will shape immediate steps and long-term changes: a new 10-Year Health Plan for the NHS.

This is a once in a generation opportunity to make the NHS fit for the future. Together we can fix it. We need your voice.

Go to change.nhs.uk to find out how you can take part.