Government Publishes the 10 Year Health Plan for England

The document is built around three shifts: from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention. The government said it drew on more than 250,000 contributions to its Change NHS engagement exercise, launched on 21 October 2024.

What the plan commits to

According to the executive summary, NHS England will be combined with the Department of Health and Social Care, with central headcount reduced by 50%. Integrated care boards are to become strategic commissioners, and every NHS provider is expected to be a foundation trust by 2035. The plan promises a neighbourhood health centre in every community, open at least 12 hours a day, six days a week, and says the NHS App will become a full front door to the NHS by 2028.

Other commitments include restoring the standard that 92% of patients start elective treatment within 18 weeks, publishing league tables, trialling patient power payments, rolling out two new GP contracts from 2026 and reducing international recruitment to below 10% of the workforce by 2035. On prevention, the plan proposes banning sales of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s and introducing mandatory healthy food sales reporting for large food companies.

Who is affected

The 10 Year Health Plan affects NHS trusts, integrated care boards, GP practices and suppliers of digital and health technology services. Life sciences businesses are also in scope: the plan targets clinical trial set-up times of 150 days by March 2026 and a Health Data Research Service backed by up to £600 million of joint investment with the Wellcome Trust. Food and drink businesses face new reporting duties and sales restrictions.

What happens next

Many measures will depend on further legislation, contract negotiations or consultation, and the targets are staged through to 2035. The plan also announces a national independent investigation into maternity and neonatal services. Providers and suppliers should expect detailed guidance on the new operating model, the merger of NHS England into the department and the timetable for digital services.

Sources

• GOV.UK: 10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future
• GOV.UK: Fit for the future, 10 Year Health Plan for England executive summary