The 10-Year Health Plan is central to the government's mission of creating a future-ready NHS while actively engaging with Asian communities.
Following Lord Darzi’s independent review of the NHS in England, published on 12 September 2024, the government is developing a modernised healthcare strategy to address key challenges.
This plan will be co-designed with the public, staff, and patients through the national engagement initiative, ‘Change NHS: Help Build a Health Service Fit for the Future’.
To streamline operations and improve efficiency, NHS England will be merged with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), reducing bureaucracy while ensuring resources are directed towards frontline staff and patient care. The Health Secretary has outlined critical actions, including hiring 1,000 GPs and ending resident doctor strikes, ensuring hospitals are fully staffed for the first winter in three years. Additionally, a refreshed workforce plan, set for release in summer 2025, will focus on shifting care from hospitals to community-based services to strengthen and future-proof the NHS.
One of the key upcoming initiatives is the Hypertension Plan, set for release in Spring 2025, which aims to support South Asian communities, where hypertension is a common underlying health issue. This plan aligns with the government’s broader vision for a modern NHS, built on three key pillars: expanding community-based care, transitioning to digital healthcare, and prioritising prevention over treatment.
The 10-Year Health Plan will not only address immediate challenges such as reducing waiting lists but also lay the groundwork for long-term reforms. Developed with input from healthcare professionals, patients, and the public, it will outline strategic priorities and necessary trade-offs to create a sustainable, efficient, and inclusive health service.
The NHS has shown positive signs, according to an ONS survey, which found that 39.7% of adults attempted to contact their GP in the past 28 days. Of those, 95.7% succeeded, with 78.1% reaching their GP the same day. Nearly half (46.6%) contacted their GP by phone, though 10.9% found it difficult.
Equitable healthcare requires real engagement
Asian Voice interviewed Dr Habib Naqvi MBE, Chief Executive of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, who emphasised the importance of meaningful engagement with minority communities in developing and implementing the 10-Year Health Plan (10YHP). He said, “We know that ensuring diverse voices, perspectives, and lived experiences are captured will make the plan truly inclusive,” he said. “The government is increasing diversity of thought in shaping the 10YHP, and at the NHS Race and Health Observatory, we are working with the Department of Health and Social Care to enhance representation. A recent roundtable, chaired by me and attended by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, brought together partners from ethnic minority communities, charities, and voluntary organisations. The success of any future healthcare plan depends on how genuinely it is co-designed with the people it aims to serve.”
Dr Habib Naqvi MBE highlighted the importance of language inclusivity in healthcare, emphasising its role in ensuring equitable access and better patient outcomes. “Language is crucial for an optimal healthcare experience,” he said. “Working with interpreters can break communication barriers, especially for vulnerable patients. While learning English is beneficial, inclusivity must be a two-way effort. The focus should be on providing compassionate care that meets the diverse needs of our communities.”
He also addressed the impact of the spring budget’s social care fund, noting concerns over government cuts. “The government’s plan to cut £2 billion in civil service administration and scrap NHS England is argued to free up resources for frontline care,” he explained. “However, carers-both registered and unpaid-often struggle with unmet needs, particularly within Asian households where extended family caregiving is common. The upcoming budget must prioritise co-designed, inclusive healthcare services, as failing to do so will have significant financial consequences for the economy.”
Dr Naqvi highlighted the challenges elderly patients face with digital healthcare services, sharing a personal example of his 77-year-old mother, who struggles with online prescriptions due to a lack of digital access. “She was told to use the NHS app for repeat prescriptions, despite not owning a phone or computer,” he explained.
Since April 2021, the NHS Race and Health Observatory has focused on digital inclusion. Their 2022 report, ‘Digital Apps and Reducing Ethnic Health Inequalities’, recommends supporting NHS digital teams to work with local practices and communities to address these gaps. “Future healthcare plans must ensure digital services are accessible to all, especially vulnerable and minority communities,” Dr Naqvi emphasised.
Stroke survivor calls for NHS reform
Ramas Lal suffered a stroke at the age of 55 and sees the ‘Change NHS’ campaign as a crucial opportunity for people from diverse backgrounds to share their experiences and advocate for necessary improvements. Reflecting on his own journey, he shared, “When I had a stroke at 55-relatively young for such a condition-miscommunication and a lack of coordinated services meant it took 10 days after my initial A&E visit to receive a proper diagnosis and the urgent treatment I needed.”
During this time, he faced repeated delays, having to relay the same information multiple times, make unnecessary hospital visits, and deal with lost or unshared medical notes. “If it hadn’t been for my wife, Bal, who fought tirelessly to ensure doctors connected the dots, it might have taken even longer,” he recalled. He also credited the Stroke Association for providing crucial guidance and support from the very beginning.
Beyond improving NHS communication and care coordination, Ramas believes there is a cultural shift needed within South Asian communities. “Many of us, especially men, tend to bottle up our health concerns, putting on a brave face instead of seeking help. That doesn’t help anyone,” he admitted. “I used to be the same, but now when people ask about my walking stick or my fatigue, I tell them exactly why. We need to break the stigma around discussing both mental and physical health—because being open can literally save lives.”
