Fit for the Future: 10 Year Health Plan for England

A New Era of Community-Based Care: What the 10-Year Health Plan Means for the South East

The Government’s newly launched 10-Year Health Plan marks the most ambitious transformation of the NHS since its creation. Backed by a £29 billion investment, the plan is built around three major shifts in healthcare delivery:

From hospital to community – bringing care closer to home and freeing up hospital capacity.
From analogue to digital – using technology to reduce admin and improve access.
From sickness to prevention – focusing on early intervention and wellbeing.

Neighbourhood Health Services: Care on Your Doorstep

At the heart of the plan is the creation of Neighbourhood Health Services. These locally-based teams will deliver integrated healthcare directly in the communities where people live — reducing the need to travel long distances or rely solely on overstretched hospital services.

Each neighbourhood team will bring together:

GPs and nurses
Social care workers
Pharmacists and paramedics
Mental health professionals
Palliative care and rehab specialists
Community health workers and trained volunteers

Services will be delivered under one roof, including diagnostics, outpatient care, rehabilitation, mental health support, and even non-medical services like employment advice and stop-smoking support. Centres will be open 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, including evenings and weekends.

What This Means for the South East

SESCA welcomes the opportunity to support this shift to community-led care. The South East already faces high demand for health and care services, particularly for ageing populations and those with complex needs. The Neighbourhood Health Service model will allow for:

Faster access to care and follow-up appointments
More personalised care plans designed in partnership with patients and carers
Reduced pressure on hospital services
Stronger links between health and social care professionals

Support for Integration and Workforce Readiness

Delivering this vision will require collaboration across local systems, upskilling of staff, and coordinated investment in digital infrastructure and estate. SESCA is committed to:

Supporting care providers to adapt to the shift to community delivery
Helping develop and embed multidisciplinary working
Advocating for funding and resources to ensure the South East is equipped to lead the way in integrated neighbourhood care

Why It Matters

By 2035, the Government aims for the majority of outpatient care to be delivered outside of hospitals. In pilot areas, this approach has already led to fewer emergency callouts and hospital stays — especially for older people. It’s a proactive, local-first model that puts people at the centre of care.

“This is a vital step towards a more preventative, community-based NHS… bringing care closer to people’s homes through blended neighbourhood health teams recognises the complex and interconnected challenges many patients face.”
— Matthew Taylor, NHS Confederation

Further Information and Resources

Read the full government guidance: Fit for the Future – 10-Year Health Plan for England (Executive Summary)
Download the official Partner Toolkit (PowerPoint): 10-Year Health Plan – Partner Toolkit 2025

Stay Informed

SESCA will continue to share updates as more detail becomes available on how the 10-Year Health Plan will be implemented across the South East.