London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – UK PM Keir Starmer launched a 10-year NHS reform plan, aiming to shift focus to prevention, digital care, and local hubs to rescue the struggling service.
The prime minister has unveiled a decade-long NHS strategy focused on prevention and digital transformation. It includes shifting care from hospitals to local hubs.
Keir Starmer’s views on fixing the NHS long-term
At a Stratford health centre in East London, Sir Keir Starmer unveiled Labour’s NHS reform plans. Joined by Health Secretary Wes Streeting and an unexpected appearance from Chancellor Rachel Reeves, he pledged not to repeat past failures and promised meaningful transformation.
He said,
“We’re putting in the resources, we’re putting in the priorities, and we’ve got the resolve to see this through. In the end, I genuinely think it is only Labour governments that can do this. I want in 10, 20, 30 years for people to look back and say this was the government that seized the moment and reformed the NHS so it’s fit for the future.”
The Labour leader presented a detailed 165-page plan, declaring that the NHS in England will shift
“from being only a sickness service to a health service which is genuinely preventative – prevents diseases in the first place.”
He outlined a short-term plan focused on key areas such as cancer screening, vaccinations, and financial incentives for healthier lifestyles.
The plan also includes pharmacy-led weight-loss support and measures to improve supermarket food standards.
Mr Starmer said the shift from hospital-based care to community health hubs is essential. He argued that this change reflects a broader shift in society away from acute health emergencies. Instead, the focus is now on managing long-term, chronic conditions.
The Labour leader said,
“We will always need hospitals. They will always be important for acute services in particular. But disease has changed, and we must change with it.”
His final focus was on creating a truly digital health service. He said the enhanced NHS app would act like “a doctor in your pocket,” offering 24/7 support and guidance.
What did Thea Stein say about the government’s NHS plan?
Thea Stein, the chief executive of the Nuffield Trust, said,
“The government is right about the serious problems it diagnoses in the NHS, and largely right in the vision it proposes to win back public faith. But we do not agree with the prophecy of extinction.”
Despite public satisfaction with the NHS falling to a record low of 21%, support for its founding principles remains strong. She said the idea of a taxpayer-funded service, free at the point of use and open to all, is still viewed as “high and resilient,”
Ms Stein stated that the plan lacks clarity on how proposed NHS changes will be implemented, adding,
“This plan contains a litany of initiatives and the belief that they will be the NHS’s saviour, with little detail on how the ailing health service is to deliver these changes.”
What did Wes Streeting say about the need for NHS reform?
Ahead of Keir Starmer’s speech, Wes Streeting warned that the NHS must undergo urgent changes to prevent those pushing for a new model. He appeared to be referring to Reform UK, which has previously backed a shift to an insurance-based system.
Mr Streeting said,
“There have always been those who whispered that the NHS is a burden, too expensive, inferior to the market, and today those voices grow louder, exploiting the crisis in our NHS in order to dismantle it.”
He added,
“We also know the consequences of failure. That’s why we can’t afford to fail. To succeed, we need to defeat the cynicism that says that nothing ever changes.”
Labour’s NHS reform plan
- The plan warns that the NHS is at serious risk after years of underfunding and mismanagement by the Conservatives.
- It argues that only Labour’s bold transformation can restore public trust and protect the NHS as a taxpayer-funded system.
- According to the plan, many patients are now unable to get timely appointments with GPs or dentists.
- The document points out that an ageing population is adding pressure by increasing demand for healthcare services.
It warns that if reforms are not made, access to care will continue to deteriorate and more people will choose private treatment when they can afford it.