On 5 December 2024, the Prime Minister presented the Government’s Plan for Change to Parliament. The Plan outlined five missions including building an NHS fit for the future.[1]
With the NHS under severe winter pressure, waiting times at an all-time high, and widespread dissatisfaction with patient care, action is needed. However, the real question is whether these proposals can overcome the entrenched issues that have troubled health provision in the UK for years.
Building an NHS Fit for the Future
The Government’s long-term mission to build an NHS fit for the future begins with addressing waiting lists. The Plan for Change outlines steps to return to NHS performance standards and improve access to services. This includes diagnosing and treating patients earlier and helping individuals better manage their health and care.[2]
The Plan also highlights three key reforms central to the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan, due for publication in spring 2025:[3]
- From hospital to community
- From analogue to digital
- From sickness to prevention
A major milestone outlined in the plan is the goal of reducing hospital backlogs and meeting the NHS standard of ensuring that 92 per cent of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to the start of consultant-led treatment for non-urgent health conditions.[4]
Reforming Elective Care
The Government acknowledges that achieving these milestones requires significant reforms in elective care. Key steps outlined include:[5]
- Transforming how elective care is delivered
- More direct and timely diagnostic test referrals and results, increased availability of testing in communities, and capital investment from the Autumn Budget 2024 to fund new surgical hubs and diagnostic scanners, aimed at expanding capacity.
- Transforming patients’ experience of care through technology
- Care will be centred around patients’ lives and choices, making it more flexible and personalized.
- The NHS App will be revamped to provide users with the tools to manage and navigate their care more easily.
- Transforming the care model to make it more sustainable
- A focus on prevention will be integrated throughout the patient care journey, with the aim of addressing issues earlier when they are easier to treat.
- Siloed models of care will be reformed to improve patient outcomes, and referral processes will be streamlined, allowing GPs easier access to specialist advice.
An Updated NHS App
On 6 January 2025, the Government announced that patients will be given more control over their care through an update to the NHS App.
Key features of the upgrade include:[6]
- Viewing and managing appointments.
- Choosing from a wider range of providers.
- Booking diagnostic tests.
- Receiving test results and next steps.
By March 2025, over 85 percent of acute trusts are expected to enable patients to view appointment information through the NHS App, offering more control and transparency over their care.[7]
Tackling Systemic Issues: Beyond the Target
The proposed reforms, if successfully implemented, should lead to significant improvements but there are still uncertainties around their delivery. For instance, is there enough infrastructure to support the transition from hospital to community care? Moreover, the Government will need to ensure an even distribution of resources exists across the country to avoid exacerbating existing health inequalities.
Digital Health and Accessibility Concerns
The Government must ensure that technology is both available and accessible to all patients. While digital solutions are a step forward, alternative options must be in place for patients who cannot use digital tools—such as older individuals with limited digital literacy. Will there be support to teach these patients how to navigate digital platforms, or will other options be provided to avoid isolating them?
Prevention vs. Current Backlogs
The Government must address the challenge of transitioning from a treatment-focused model to one centred on prevention, while addressing current backlogs and waiting lists, all within the constraints of effective long-term budget management.
Summary
While the Plan for Change outlines an ambitious roadmap for NHS reform, the true success of these measures will depend on the Government’s ability to address systemic issues including underfunding, staff shortages, and health inequalities.
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Notes
[1] HM Government, ‘Plan for Change – Milestones for mission-led government’, 5 December 2024, link
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid
[5] Ibid
[6] The Department for Health and Social Care and The Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, ‘Power to patients as government sets out plan to cut waiting lists’, 6 January 2024, link
[7] Ibid
