Blog by Ivan Olbrechts and James O’Rourke – Family and Friends Representatives of Learning Disability England
The new Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said that:
“Our NHS is broken, but not beaten. Together we can fix it. “
Announced on Monday, 21st October, the government has asked the public, NHS staff, and experts to help ‘fix’ the NHS via a new online platform:
We attended a launch event in London, as Learning Disability England friends and family representatives, for speeches by the Prime Minister and Health Secretary (Sir Keir Starmer and Wes Streeting).
We also contributed to round-table discussions with representatives of third sector organisations, NHS staff and MP’s on the “3 big shifts in healthcare”:
- improving digital systems
- moving treatment from hospital to local communities (and people’s homes)
- moving from treating sickness to prevention
The aim of the initiative is to fix the NHS and deliver better, faster, more local care by involving everyone who relies on the NHS and those who work for the NHS or social care in a new 10-Year Health Plan for the NHS.
LDE members using the platform will be able to share their experiences and their ideas on how to fix the NHS.
How LDE members can get involved? Register with the new platform: Change.NHS.uk.
Finally, the ‘elephant in the room’ was the NHS’s reliance on the third sector and social care, not least healthcare or ’nursing’ activities delivered by families and support workers.
When pushed by James on this point, the Health Secretary said that there will be a new 10-Year Social Care Plan too. So watch this space!
Scott Watkin, Paid Supporter Representative attended the ministerial reception for the consultation.