Our NHS – the next chapter: launch of We Need to Talk public engagement in Humber and North Yorkshire

Starting today (14 October), it will lay bare some of the difficulties faced by the NHS, whilst giving people an opportunity to signal how they might want the NHS to change to meet the challenges of today and the demands of the future.

In a snap poll carried out by NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) ahead of the public engagement, almost 63 per cent of the 428 people who responded said the NHS needed to change.

There's further information about We Need to Talk and details of how people can get involved in the conversation at www.ourNHS.org as well as a link to a short survey.

People without access to the internet can request further information and a paper copy of the survey by calling 01482 672156 or by writing to (no stamp required):-

NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB
FREEPOST RTTL-HSBE-BLHL
Health House
Grange Park Lane
Willerby
HULL
HU10 6DT

Dr Nigel Wells, NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB's Executive Director of Clinical and Professional, said: "In the NHS, we couldn’t ask for a more dedicated and compassionate workforce, so it is enormously frustrating when we can't always give people the care we would want to give because of the pressure the NHS is under.

"We have to be honest. Right now, the NHS is in serious trouble. And without action, we know many of the issues we're facing will only get worse, which isn't fair on patients or our staff.

"If you've struggled to get an appointment with your GP, can't see a dentist, spent hours waiting to be seen in an A&E, or months waiting for an operation, you will have experienced first-hand an NHS that's struggling to deal with a population that's generally in poorer health since COVID and buckling under the weight of demand.

"There have been some green shoots of recovery from the COVID pandemic, but without some big shifts in the way we deliver health and care, these will wither on the vine.

"We Need to Talk is about understanding how you might feel about this direction of travel, and what matters to you, so together we can turn a page and start writing a new chapter for the NHS."

Health leaders in Humber and North Yorkshire say they want to create better community services closer to people's homes, more specialist hospitals and centres for excellence to provide the best emergency, expert and high-quality care for those who need it, make better use of technology, and focus on prevention and early intervention to ensure people live more years in good health.

Reducing gaps in life expectancy between people in our richest and poorest communities remains a key priority, together with creating an NHS workforce that's "adaptable, effective and happier".

The launch of We Need to Talk follows the publication of a report by Lord Ara Darzi into the state of our national health service. Lord Darzi concluded the NHS "is in a critical condition" but "its vital signs are strong".

The Government says a 10-year plan for the NHS will be published next year, but it has already said it wants to see more community care, better use of digital technology and more done to prevent ill health.