THE NHS LONG-TERM PLAN AND THE IMPORTANCE TO THE NORTH EAST REGION

The long-term plan for the National Health Service (NHS, 2019) identifies a blueprint to make the NHS fit for the future with a greater focus on prevention, improving services for patients and the importance of integrating services to make them more effective and efficient. The challenge is in the delivery and who is responsible to implement changes. The key is to enable staff at local levels to have responsibility for ensuring that the health and social needs of their local population are met. Established to oversee the implementation is the NHS Assembly with 50 individuals from across the health and care sector to advise NHS England and NHS Improvement on the implementation. This requires shared commitment and motivation to change; ensuring patient centred care is at the forefront of any changes to delivering care. At regional level, Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships and Integrated Care Systems are groups of local NHS organisations, local councils and other partners, who are working together in the region to develop and implement the NHS plan. There are many challenges ahead to ensure the plan delivers better regional health and social care, including the impending UK’s decision to leave the European Union. Brexit may present some opportunities but if freedom of movement and membership of the single market and customs union end as planned, NHS and social care face several significant threats in the region.