Chapter 8: conclusion
Published 17 December 2025
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2025
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/engagement-insight-report-10-year-health-plan-for-england/chapter-8-conclusion
The Change NHS engagement is a landmark moment in the history of the NHS. There have been over a quarter of a million contributions from members of the public and staff, including people from seldom heard audiences.
We’ve heard that the NHS is in crisis. The public told us about the challenges associated with access to care, while staff told us about challenges with staffing levels, funding and poor technology, which they say makes it really difficult to do their job. Addressing these concerns is a consistent focus throughout the 10 Year Health Plan.
We also heard how members of the public and staff are deeply proud of the NHS and are committed to the founding principle of the health service that it is free at the point of use.
The public and staff supported the 3 shifts and could see how they could help deliver a better and more efficient NHS. However, they also raised some worries about each, which the 10 Year Health Plan will need to address.
The scale of response to this engagement illustrates the passion people have for the NHS and their desire to fix it and protect it for generations to come. Their contributions can be seen throughout the 10 Year Health Plan.