Hopes and concerns for the future of the NHS in Derby and Derbyshire

The priorities of local people and communities for the future of the NHS have been published.

More than 180 people took part in seven workshop events across the county during January and February, in response to the government’s “Change NHS” programme.

Organisations and representatives who took part included:

  • Mental Health Together
  • The Workshop Derby (which supports adults living with a disability)
  • Derby and Derbyshire Healthwatches
  • Derby Health Inequalities Partnership (DHIP),
  • Black and Minority Ethnic Forum
  • Derbyshire Carers Association
  • Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities’ representatives
  • Local Councillors

The workshops focused on the “three shifts” proposed by the government for its new 10 year plan: hospital to community; analogue to digital; sickness to prevention.

A report summarising the findings has been published on the NHS Derby and Derbyshire Involvement website and will be received by the board of the Integrated Care Board.

The feedback has been submitted to the government and will contribute to the ongoing development of Derby and Derbyshire’s Joint Forward Plan.

The feedback includes:

What will remain the same and what will change if the plan is successful

  • What stays the same: Caring NHS staff, free healthcare, core NHS values
  • What changes: Improved access to services, better collaboration between agencies, more community-based care.

Hospital to community:

  • Hopes: Easier healthcare access, improve coordination between services, stronger community support
  • Concerns: unequal access in rural areas, increased pressure on unpaid cares, strain on an already overwhelmed primary care service.

Analogue to digital:

  • Hopes: Shared records to reduce repetition, AI-assisted diagnosis for faster results, virtual appointments to enhance accessibility, stronger communication between healthcare providers.
  • Concerns: Digital exclusion for elderly and rural communities, risk of losing the human touch in care, data privacy and cybersecurity concerns, potential over-reliance on technology leading to system failures.

Treatment to prevention:

  • Hopes: Increased focus to keep people healthy, more community-based health initiatives, better education on healthy lifestyles, and early intervention to prevent illnesses.
  • Concerns: Ensuring equitable access to preventive services, overcoming resistance to lifestyle changes, securing funding for preventive programs, and measuring the long-term impact of preventive initiatives.

Priorities for prevention:

  • Mental Health support, health education, screening and early detection, vaccination programmes, tackling smoking and addiction.

Chris Clayton, NHS Derby and Derbyshire chief executive, said: “Thank you to everyone who took part in and gave their views during these events earlier this year.

“We have gathered a rich set of views and experiences that have contributed to the national engagement exercise and which we will now use as we set our plans and priorities locally.

“We will stay in touch with people who contributed and work together with communities and interest groups to design and redesign services together so they meet the needs of local people.”