Patients and staff at the heart of NHS plan

THE Government will launch a major consultation on the future of the NHS today, promising to put patients and staff at the heart of its 10-year health plan.

Billed as "the biggest national conversation about the future of the NHS since its birth", members of the public will be able to share their views online via change.NHS.uk until the start of next year.

The consultation is part of the Government's plans to transform the NHS into a "neighbourhood health service", shifting more care from hospitals to communities.

The plan, expected to be published in spring 2025, will also see greater use of data and technology, with easier sharing of patient data, saving an estimated 140,000 hours of staff time every year.