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Massive change for NHS announced as Keir Starmer says it must 'reform or die'

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New health centres across the country will provide treatment from nurses, doctors and paramedics in a bid to cut "devastating" hospital waiting lists. Open for 12 hours a day, six days a week, the Neighbourhood Health Service centres will also offer debt advice, employment support and help to stop smoking or lose weight.

It is part of a 10-year health plan to be launched by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Health Secretary Wes Streeting on Thursday to end what the Government calls a "crisis" in the NHS. Other key measures include making more use of artificial intelligence and stepping up measures to prevent people from falling ill in the first place.

Thousands more GPs will also be trained, in an effort to bring back the family doctor and end the 8am scramble to get an appointment.

Shifting care to new health centres will free up over-strained hospitals from "perpetual firefighting", ministers say. Waiting lists have remained stubbornly high since the Covid pandemic, with 7.42million people waiting for treatment - down from a high of 7.7million, but way higher than the 4.5million before the virus struck.

Sir Keir warned the NHS must "reform or die". He said: "We inherited a health system in crisis, addicted to a sticking plaster approach, and unable to face up to the challenges we face now, let alone in the future. That ends now."

He added: "That means giving everyone access to GPs, nurses, and wider support all under one roof in their neighbourhood - rebalancing our health system so that it fits around patients' lives, not the other way round."

The new health centres will become a base for nurses, doctors, social care workers, pharmacists, health visitors, palliative care staff, and paramedics. Community health workers and volunteers will also play a role.

In addition, "community outreach" teams will provide health advice on the doorstep.

It follows a review of the NHS by surgeon Lord Darzi, commissioned by Mr Streeting. It warned that the health service was in a "critical condition" due to low productivity, poor staff morale and a failure to keep up with new technology.

Mr Streeting said: "By shifting from hospital to community, we will finally bring down devastating hospital waiting lists and stop patients going from pillar to post to get treated."

The plan is also designed to give the NHS modern computer systems - and end the current reliance on paper and old-fashioned fax machines. The Government will also introduce digital telephone systems so all calls to GP practices are answered quickly.

Ministers say new GP contracts will be introduced, encouraging and allowing practices to cover a wider geographical area. This will mean smaller practices in the catchment area will get more support.

Sir James Mackey, chief executive of NHS England, said: "By bringing together a full range of clinicians as one team, we can deliver care that's more accessible, convenient and better for patients, as well as reducing pressures on hospitals."

Experts have cautiously welcomed the proposals. Jennifer Dixon, chief executive of the Health Foundation, said: "We welcome the scale of the Government's ambition and commitment to sustaining the NHS for decades to come.

"However, these ambitions have appeared in NHS plans for decades, so the question now is whether they will be backed up by the concrete policy changes and investment needed to turn them from rhetoric to reality."

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: "At Age UK, we aspire to an NHS that proactively supports older people to stay as well as is possible for as long as possible, and if delivered well the Neighbourhood Health Service really could help achieve it."

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