The new Labour-run government has launched a major consultation on the future of the health service

North London NHS leaders have said the government’s new ten-year plan for the health service is an “opportunity to be transformative” but that it must be “bold”.

North Central London Integrated Care Board (ICB) – the organisation responsible for financing and supporting local NHS and wider health services across Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington – has published its response to the government’s ‘Change NHS’ consultation.

The new Labour-run government launched the major consultation in October to help inform the publication of a new ten-year plan for the NHS.

Frances O’Callaghan, North Central London ICB’s chief executive, said: “The new ten-year plan could provide an opportunity to be transformative, but it will need to be bold.

“We have welcomed the opportunity to submit our views, based on the work we do, and the valuable input of groups and partners we work with.”

Earlier this month, Camden hosted a regional roadshow for the consultation, with more than 100 members of the public coming together to share their views.

In coming weeks the ICB will continue to use a variety of other groups and events to gather the views and opinions of local residents to feed into the consultation, including two online sessions on Thursday, 23rd January, and Thursday, 6th February, which residents can sign up for online.

O’Callaghan said: “I’ve had some fantastic conversations over the past few weeks about the future of health and care. There is a real sense that across North Central London we want to see more of a focus on mental health and on children and young people.

“We want to demystify what we mean by technology in care, and we want to support NHS staff to do their jobs.”

The North Central London ICB submission was some 5,000 words long, highlighting a significant number of key things local NHS leaders would like to see in the plan, and the key things which need to happen to enable it to have the greatest impact.

Some of the key issues highlighted by the ICB include the need for capital investment into buildings and digital infrastructure; the move for much more health care to be delivered locally, away from acute hospitals, with greater partnership working; and the key role that GPs and other primary care colleagues need to play.

O’Callaghan said: “We need to fully embrace working at a local ‘neighbourhood’ level, so that people can get more services closer to home. This means even more aligned partnership working between health, the voluntary sector, councils, and other partners – whether that’s in social care, mental health, public health or elsewhere.

“We can’t expect partners to work together in a more joined-up way without the technology, investment and infrastructure to support it. We need shared IT systems that work, buildings that enhance collaborative working.

“This means having more certainty about what investment we can make in facilities, technology, and community-based services.”

She concluded: “I’m looking forward to seeing how our collective insights shape the future of services. Our thanks go to everyone who has helped us by participating.”

To join the ‘Change NHS’ session on Thursday, 23rd January:
Visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/change-nhs-join-the-discussion-tickets

To join the ‘Change NHS’ session on Thursday, 6th February:
Visit eventbrite.co.uk/e/change-nhs-join-the-discussion-evening-session-tickets

Find out more about the ten-year plan NHS consultation:
Visit https://change.nhs.uk

No news is bad news 

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts. 

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less. 

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation. 

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit 

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else. £84 annual supporters get a print copy by post and a digital copy of each month's before anyone else.

More information on supporting us monthly 

More Information about donations