Primary Health Care

Question

Work is already underway to ensure the safeguarding of primary care services. Neighbourhood Health Centres will be trialled to bring together a range of services, ensuring healthcare is provided closer to home. This is part of our broader ambition to move towards a Neighbourhood Health Service, with more care delivered in local communities to spot problems earlier.

The 10-Year Health Plan has been launched to reform the National Health Service and make it fit for the future. The plan will set out a bold agenda to deliver on the three big shifts needed to move healthcare from hospital to the community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention.

The Government is providing the biggest investment into general practice for years, an additional £889 million on top of the existing budget. We will make sure the future of general practice is sustainable by training thousands more general practitioners, guaranteeing a face-to-face appointment for all those who want one, and delivering a modern booking system.

We are committed to expanding the role of community pharmacies and better utilising the skills of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. That includes making prescribing part of the services delivered by community pharmacists as we shift care from hospital to the community.

We plan to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access NHS dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.

NHS England is working to develop a long-term infrastructure strategy including anticipated primary care investment needed to meet demand over the next 10 years and beyond, as well as a detailed look at the quality of the estate.