Beyond one-size-fits-all: opportunities for primary care bodies to play a central role following the NHS 10 Year Plan

The NHS’s new 10 Year Plan is expected to signal a fundamental shift in how primary care is structured, delivered, and – crucially – understood by policymakers. The HSJ recently reported that the plan aims to move away from a “one-size-fits-all” model of primary care to a more segmented, locally responsive approach to care, focused on meeting patient need.

For primary care providers, this isn’t just a service delivery challenge – it’s a need to adapt political messaging. The way primary care engages with Parliament, Government, and the wider policy ecosystem must evolve in step with the system it serves.

So, what does modern primary care look like?

A neighbourhood health service isn’t a new idea. It was a cornerstone of the NHS’s plans in the Labour Party’s pre-election manifesto and post-election communications, but the wider healthcare sector has long been calling for a refocus on patient care and meeting patient need.

The 10 Year Plan is likely to finally delineate this model. The focus on community care means there are opportunities for pharmacists, optometrists, audiologists, dentists and GPs to cement their role as the front door to the NHS, but also to clarify how their roles will differ in future, and how they work together in the best interests of patients.

At Luther, working with organisations in the primary care sector, we’ve seen firsthand the success which comes from demonstrating the local impact of services through robust data, compelling patient outcomes, and evidence-led community engagement, not just policy alignment.

For example, reform to primary care services to target the needs of different patient groups can be an effective way of engaging with a wider range of stakeholders. I was recently at a parliamentary event to advocate for an expansion of community pharmacy services to support those with lung health conditions, including asthma. The joint messaging coming from representatives across primary care was clear and caught the attention of MPs eager to understand more about how their constituents might benefit.

What can you be doing to prepare?

The 10 Year Plan, is now likely to be published in late June or early July, but there are things that primary care providers can be doing to prepare in advance.

Facilitating collaboration across providers, charities and patient groups to amplify shared priorities, and ensuring your sector is presenting a unified voice to policymakers is imperative, as well as mapping these stakeholders in advance.

While the 10 Year Plan may present challenges, it also opens the door for more targeted, impactful engagement. Clearly articulating how services are already supporting underserved communities, and can do so even more in future, will demonstrate your sector’s alignment with the Government’s national reform goals for the NHS.

Luther’s experience of advising and supporting organisations across the healthcare world is unparalleled. To find out more about how we can help you, please get in touch at health@luther.co.uk