Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan has endorsed the government’s ambitious 10 Year Health Plan, which promises to deliver NHS services directly within local communities across the city through innovative neighbourhood health centres.
The revolutionary healthcare strategy will establish comprehensive medical facilities in residential areas, offering everything from diagnostic services and mental health support to post-operative care and rehabilitation programmes right on residents’ doorsteps.
Mr Morgan praised the transformative initiative following its official launch by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, describing it as a pivotal moment that will reshape how Portsmouth residents access healthcare services.
The neighbourhood health centres represent a fundamental shift in NHS delivery, moving away from hospital-centric care towards community-based treatment that fits around patients’ daily lives rather than forcing them to travel lengthy distances for medical attention.
Last year, Mr Morgan collaborated with Portsmouth North MP Amanda Martin to organise a local consultation event, gathering residents’ opinions on what elements should feature in the comprehensive health plan.
Portsmouth constituents’ suggestions included enhanced technology integration to reduce waiting periods, greater emphasis on preventive medicine to halt disease progression, and increased community-based support to alleviate hospital pressures – all central components of the finalised strategy.
The Neighbourhood Health Service will deploy specialist teams, many operating from single consolidated locations, throughout communities nationwide to dramatically enhance NHS accessibility and convenience.
These multidisciplinary teams will comprise nurses, GPs, social care professionals, pharmacists, health visitors, palliative care specialists, and paramedics, working collaboratively to provide seamless healthcare delivery.
Community health workers and volunteers will serve crucial functions within these teams, with local areas encouraged to pilot innovative initiatives including door-to-door outreach programmes designed to identify early illness indicators and reduce strain on GP surgeries and accident and emergency departments.
The new facilities will operate extended hours – 12 hours daily, six days weekly – bringing traditionally hospital-based services including diagnostics, post-surgical care, and rehabilitation into community settings whilst also providing additional support services such as debt counselling, employment assistance, and smoking cessation programmes.
Mr Morgan stated: “Our healthcare system faces unprecedented challenges. Without immediate action, we risk losing the NHS as a publicly funded service that remains free at point of access.
“However, Portsmouth residents have demonstrated that by embracing opportunities presented by emerging technology, pharmaceuticals, and innovation, we can provide superior care for all patients – regardless of location or income – whilst delivering better value for taxpayers.
“This decade-long strategy will revitalise the NHS and prepare it for future challenges, ensuring Portsmouth people can rely on it when needed.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer commented: “The NHS must serve everyone, whenever required.
“We inherited a healthcare system in crisis, dependent on temporary solutions, unable to confront current challenges, let alone future ones.
“This changes now. It’s reform or die. Our 10 Year Health Plan will completely restructure and future-proof the NHS, placing care within people’s communities, utilising revolutionary technology, and prioritising illness prevention.
“This means providing universal access to GPs, nurses, and comprehensive support within neighbourhood facilities – rebalancing our healthcare system to accommodate patients’ lives rather than expecting the opposite.
“Though not an immediate solution, our Plan for Change is already reversing years of decline with over four million additional appointments, 1,900 extra GPs, and waiting lists at two-year lows.
“More progress awaits. This government is providing patients with easier, faster, and more convenient care, wherever they reside.”
- Portsmouth businesses welcome top Ambassador to Japan
- Portsmouth MP backs Labour’s £725bn infrastructure plan
The strategy follows Lord Darzi’s assessment of NHS challenges, where he determined the service was in ‘critical condition’ due to entrenched problems including reduced productivity, declining staff morale, technological stagnation, increasing waiting times, and deteriorating national health.
The Prime Minister outlined three fundamental shifts to restore NHS effectiveness: hospital to community; analogue to digital; and sickness to prevention.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Our 10 Year Health Plan will revolutionise the NHS, delivering one of history’s most significant healthcare delivery transformations.
“By transitioning from hospital to community focus, we will finally reduce devastating hospital waiting lists and prevent patients from navigating multiple locations for treatment.
“This Government’s Plan for Change is creating a truly future-ready NHS, maintaining patient health outside hospitals, with care closer to home and within homes.”
Sir James Mackey, Chief Executive of NHS England, added: “The Neighbourhood Health Service presents an enormous opportunity to transform care delivery over the coming decade – beginning at people’s doorsteps.
“By uniting comprehensive clinical teams, we can provide more accessible, convenient, and improved patient care whilst reducing hospital pressures.”
Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation, said: “This represents a crucial step towards a more preventative, community-focused NHS. Delivering care closer to homes through integrated neighbourhood health teams acknowledges the complex, interconnected challenges many patients encounter, and represents the correct direction for improving outcomes and relieving hospital pressure.
“Many areas already see general practices collaborating through primary care networks and GP Federations with other organisations to deliver coordinated care. Building upon these successful foundations will be essential.
“Achieving this ambition requires sustained investment in digital infrastructure and facilities, NHS workforce support, and commitment to decentralising national control by empowering local leaders to serve their populations best. We eagerly await collaboration with the government to transform this bold vision into lasting change.”
