logo
Almost half of people do not think 10-year plan will boost GP access

Almost half of people do not think 10-year plan will boost GP access

More than four in 10 also believe the 10-year plan will make no difference or will not improve waiting times in A&E.
However, there is huge support for some of the ideas included in the blueprint, with the overwhelming majority backing the creation of neighbourhood health centres, the expansion of the NHS app and more mental health support in schools and colleges.
The 10-year health plan was unveiled by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer earlier this month, and set out a series of shifts to bring care much closer to people's homes, reducing the reliance on hospitals and A&E.
Key reforms include an enhanced NHS app, giving patients more control over their care, new neighbourhood health centres open six days a week and at least 12 hours a day, and new laws on food and alcohol to prevent ill health.
A survey of 1,023 adults in Britain, conducted by Ipsos for the PA news agency, asked people how they think the plan will impact access to healthcare, such as getting a GP appointment, A&E waiting times and waiting times for routine hospital treatment.
Some 35% said the plan will have no impact on getting a GP appointment, while 14% believe it will make things harder.
This compares with the 29% of people who said they think it will make getting an appointment easier.
More than a third (37%) said it will make no difference to waiting times in emergency departments, while almost one in 10 (9%), said they believe it could worsen waiting times, compared with 30% who said it will improve them.
Meanwhile, 31% said the plan will have no impact on waiting times for hospital treatment, 11% believe the plan will worsen waiting times and 34% said they think the measures will help.
However, a number of proposals outlined in the plan were strongly backed by the public.
Some 84% said they supported the creation of a single patient record, while 78% backed the creation of neighbourhood health centres, 73% support the expansion of the NHS app and 72% are in favour of more mental health support in schools and colleges.
However, more than a quarter (27%) of people do not support making hospitals fully AI enabled, compared with 44% who would back the move.
Almost one in five (18%) said they would not support so-called 'patient power payments', which would allow patients to hold back some of the payment for their care if they are not satisfied, while 42% would support the measure.
Some proposals aimed at helping people to lead healthier lives were also strongly supported.
A ban on the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks was backed by 78% of people, while 69% back plans to restrict junk food advertising.
However, almost one in five (18%) tended to disagree with measures that could see alcoholic drinks labelled with nutritional information, although 57% backed the move.
One in four people think the measures included in the plan will make no difference to patients, the poll found.
Almost one in 10 (9%) said they think the changes will make things worse, while 35% believe it will improve the health service.
A similar proportion, 23%, said the 10-year health plan will make no difference to NHS staff, while 13% said it could make things worse and 33% believe it will have a positive effect.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'We're getting on with the job of delivering for patients, with NHS waiting lists falling by 260,000 since July 2024, delivering more than 4.6 million additional appointments since the general election and recruiting over 1,900 extra GPs to fix the front door of the NHS.
'Backed by an additional £29 billion, our 10-year health plan will seize the opportunities provided by new technology, medicines and innovation to deliver better care for all patients, no matter where they live or how much they earn, and better value for taxpayers.
'It is no surprise the plan is popular with patients, it was the result of the biggest conversation with staff, patients and the public since the formation of the NHS, with more than a quarter of a million contributions.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

This killer of men can no longer be ignored
This killer of men can no longer be ignored

Telegraph

time23 minutes ago

  • Telegraph

This killer of men can no longer be ignored

In medical circles, prostate cancer is often known as 'the invisible killer'. Its early symptoms are hard to detect and it may remain undiagnosed until too late. Some 10,000 men a year are diagnosed with prostate cancer only after at least three visits to their GP. And every year, some 12,000 lives are cut short unnecessarily by the failure to treat this hidden menace before it has spread beyond the prostate gland. So The Telegraph is proud to announce a new campaign calling for a targeted National Health Service screening programme for prostate cancer. It is nothing short of a scandal that such a programme does not already exist. We ardently hope that you, our readers, will join us in a mission to right this wrong and thereby save, over time, many thousands of lives. The importance of early detection and diagnosis has been demonstrated by the huge improvement in survival rates for breast cancer since mass screening for women aged 50-70 was introduced by the NHS in 1988. Since then, it has reduced deaths from breast cancer by at least 20 per cent. The NHS is now extending breast screening to women in their 40s and 70s. Yet there is still no equivalent mass programme for prostate cancer, which is the most common form of cancer for men and the second biggest killer. Middle-aged men are notoriously reluctant to visit the doctor. Prostate cancer presents a particular problem, because patients are embarrassed and may have unjustified fears that a medical examination would be unpleasant. A mass screening programme would help to remove the myths and stigma. The reality is that PSA blood tests — which are simple, cheap and painless — should be routinely offered to patients who are at risk of prostate cancer, especially if they have a family history of the disease. Yet in reality many GPs seem reluctant to do so: more than 5 per cent of prostate sufferers had to make five surgery visits before being offered a PSA test. The answer to this injustice is to roll out a national screening programme, as Prostate Cancer Research and many experts have long advocated. Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, has lent his support to the Telegraph campaign, but the decision lies with the UK National Screening Committee. We can only hope that its members recognise the overwhelming body of evidence in favour of screening for prostate cancer. The Telegraph will play its part in making sure that the invisible killer can no longer be ignored.

High cholesterol warning sign you can feel in your hands
High cholesterol warning sign you can feel in your hands

Daily Mirror

time36 minutes ago

  • Daily Mirror

High cholesterol warning sign you can feel in your hands

High cholesterol is a common condition that can have serious consequences if left untreated, including an increased risk of heart disease. One of the symptoms may impact your knees High cholesterol is a silent threat to heart health, often showing no symptoms and leading to serious conditions like heart disease or stroke if left unchecked. ‌ Certain individuals are more susceptible to high cholesterol, including men, those over 50, and people of South Asian or sub-Saharan African descent. ‌ Lifestyle factors such as consuming fatty foods, being overweight, smoking, and alcohol consumption can also contribute to high cholesterol levels. ‌ Familial hypercholesterolaemia, a genetic condition where the liver fails to properly process cholesterol, resulting in elevated blood cholesterol levels, can also be a cause. Those with familial hypercholesterolaemia may notice certain symptoms, one of which affects the knees. Tendon xanthomata, swellings composed of cholesterol, can form on your knees, knuckles, or Achilles tendon. Other signs include small, yellow cholesterol deposits near the inner corner of your eye, known as xanthelasmas, or a pale, white ring around your iris, referred to as corneal arcus, reports Surrey Live. ‌ It's crucial to have your cholesterol levels checked regularly, either at your GP surgery or some pharmacies. The NHS recommends requesting a test from your GP if you're over 40, overweight, or have a family history of high cholesterol or heart problems and haven't had a test before. To keep your cholesterol levels in check, the British Heart Foundation suggests being more active. They explain that physical activity helps shift bad cholesterol to your liver, where it can be expelled from your body. ‌ But don't worry, you won't need to start training for a marathon. Simple activities like taking the stairs, practising yoga or Pilates, or going for a brisk walk can make a significant difference. According to the BHF, one of the "best things" you can do for your cholesterol and overall health is to quit smoking. They assure that within days your health will start to improve, "and within a year, your risk of heart disease will be halved". Your diet also plays a crucial role in managing cholesterol levels. You should aim to reduce your intake of foods such as meat pies, sausages, butter, cream, hard cheese, cakes, biscuits, and anything containing coconut oil or palm oil. ‌ The NHS recommends incorporating more oily fish, olive oil, brown bread, wholegrain bread, whole-wheat pasta, nuts and seeds, and fruits and vegetables into your diet. It's also vital to moderate your alcohol consumption, according to the NHS. They advise not exceeding 14 units of alcohol per week and avoiding binge drinking. If you're struggling to cut down, your GP can provide helpful advice.

Nolans Sister Anne's health update after cancer battle - 'I don't want to die'
Nolans Sister Anne's health update after cancer battle - 'I don't want to die'

Daily Mirror

timean hour ago

  • Daily Mirror

Nolans Sister Anne's health update after cancer battle - 'I don't want to die'

The 74-year-old, who has battled breast cancer twice, lost sisters Bernie and Linda to the disease When a letter with an NHS stamp dropped on Anne Nolan 's doormat, she held her breath for a moment. It had been five years since she'd been diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time, then having to undergo surgery before enduring chemotherapy and radiotherapy. ‌ Every test since had been clear but fear consumed Anne, 74, and she pushed the letter to one side. She'd tragically lost sisters Bernie and Linda to the disease and the devastation of them no longer being around still cuts deep. 'If it was bad news, I don't know how I was going to handle it,' she admitted. ‌ ‌ Eventually drumming up the courage and strength to find out her fate, the tears started rolling when Anne read she was officially cancer-free. 'It was great news,' she says. 'It said I was all clear and it hadn't spread anywhere else. I had a little cry. I was very emotional. I was just relieved more than anything and I felt so blessed and so happy.' The happiness was tinged with sadness though, as Anne's thoughts turned to little sisters Linda and Bernie. 'Although I was absolutely thrilled, I did think about them,' she opened up. "I didn't feel guilty because it's nothing to do with me but I did feel sad that they weren't as lucky as I was. It's an emotional thing for me to think about them not surviving and then I did survive. But that's just the luck of the draw.' Linda passed away in January. She was 65. Her initial cancer was in the breast which spread to other parts of her body. Bernie died in 2013 aged 52 of the same disease. Speaking from her Blackpool home, she said: 'I don't really like to hear when people say, 'You've fought your cancer' because it makes people who've died of cancer didn't fight hard enough. I think I've just been lucky. I always consider myself lucky when I look at my two sisters. Linda went through a terrible time and so did Bernie.' ‌ Although her chemotherapy was gruelling, Anne says she fared better than those around her also battling the disease. Diagnosed with her first cancer in 2000 and her second 20 years later, both were caught early with treatment starting within two weeks both times. But her 2022 experience has left lasting scars on Anne's mental health. 'It was really awful,' she explained. 'I ended us having anxiety about dying. I've had to have tablets from the doctor for anxiety because of having cancer during COVID. I wasn't allowed to be with my family. I was in hospital for 11 days. And nobody could visit me except my sister-in-law and my brother-in-law both worked at the hospital. It was horrendous. I still have anxiety but it's not as bad. I have anxieties about dying. It is about the cancer coming back as well. That's why I didn't want to open the letter. I don't want to die, I love being alive. I love being here.' ‌ Anne has a lot to live for. She beams when she talks about her two daughters - Amy, 44, and Alex, 37, and three grandchildren Vinny, 15, Ryder, 13, and Navaeh, 10. 'I want to see them grow up,' she pleads. 'My granddaughter plays football. I was watching the Lionesses in the Euros because I'm a massive football fan. And I'm thinking, 'God, if I live for another 10 years, Niamh might be playing for the Lionesses by the time.' That's what I keep thinking. Vinny plays football and Ryder plays guitar. Please let me live until they get older and they remember me and I can see what they're going to do with their lives.' As one of the famous Nolan sisters, she's also got her close-knit family to lean on. She rose to fame when their band, made up of her Maureen, Linda, Denise, Bernie and Coleen with hits I'm In The Mood for Dancing and Gotta Pull Myself Together. ‌ Anne says her ill health has made her want to live life to the max. 'When you've had a life-threatening disease and you've lost two sisters then it brings it all to the forefront,' she mused. 'It makes you value life. You grab everything with both hands. Whenever I'm asked to do something I say yes straight away. When you come through it and you're at the other end and you think, well I didn't die and I'm alive and I'm gonna live every day.' Taking on that mantra, Anne is determined to tick some life plans off her extensive bucket list. It means for a busy few years, as she spells out her big plans 'I'd love to go and see the Vatican,' she smiles. 'I'd love to go to Nashville. I'd love to learn how to swim. I would love to learn a language, probably French or Spanish. And also learn an instrument. These are all the things I wished I had when I was younger.' She's also planning a trip down to stay with Coleen at her six-acre Staffordshire farm - but says don't expect her to be mucking out the animals. 'Coleen's place is absolutely gorgeous - but it's not for me,' laughes Anne. 'I can clean my whole house in a couple of hours. And although I love animals, I'm not good with them. I'm scared of most animals. I'm scared of dogs and I'm scared of cats. When I go to Coleen's farm, I go and see the horses and the goats but I couldn't be left alone with them.' ‌ She says her little sister is in her element there, and it's a joy to see. 'She absolutely loves it,' beams Anne. 'I remember when we were doing a tour with Frank Sinatra. Our opening night was in the Palais de Congress in Paris. She was nine at the time and we said to her, 'You can come with us with my mum and dad and then they can bring you home.' She said 'No I can't. I've got to muck out the horses at stables.' So from an early age she's always loved animals.' Coleen once described the cancer that impacted their family so acutely as a 'curse'. The Loose Women favourite herself was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2023 and brother Brian was told he had prostate cancer three days after Linda's funeral. Anne says she feels 'really well' despite the toll her body has been through over the pass couple of decades. ‌ 'I've got no aches and pains," insists Anne. "I don't take any medication at all. Now and again I might take an anxiety tablet but I don't take them regularly. I have neuropathy which I got from my chemotherapy. I have that in my feet and it's more of a sensation rather than a pain. Sometimes it wakes me up in the night. I'm able to do most things. I do my own housework. It's good considering I've had cancer twice.' Despite her all-clear, Anne says cancer will always be at the back of her mind. 'When you have cancer, it's one of those things that you kind of live with it for the rest of your life,' she says. 'You could kind of get a little bruise or a lump somewhere and you think, 'Oh my god, is that cancer?' It can always come back. "I get scared as well, and this is really stupid, but both my cancers I found when I was in the shower. So now in the shower I'm inclined not to be as good at looking for things as I'm frightened of finding something. It's really stupid because the thing is if you've got cancer, it's not going to go away. So the more you leave it, the less chance you've got of curing it.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store