10 Year Health Plan sets out a significant shift
The question is: will funding will flow to social care to support it?
The NHS 10-Year Health Plan sets out a significant shift toward prevention, localised care, and digital innovation—changes that will have important implications for social care providers. At its heart is a major reorganisation of how and where care is delivered. *DHSC
The government aims to reduce pressure on hospitals by investing in “neighbourhood health centres” multi-disciplinary hubs that will handle a wide range of health and wellbeing needs closer to where people live. 
These centres will operate extended hours and include mental health support, GPs, pharmacists, and even employment advisers.
Says Nicola McLeish, Chief Executive of Surrey Care Association: ‘For social care providers, this signals a move toward greater integration between health and care services, with a growing expectation to collaborate more closely with NHS teams within communities.
Whilst we welcome this further integration the question of whether or not the funding will flow to social care to support this localised integration.’
Prevention and early intervention
The plan puts a strong emphasis on prevention and early intervention, another thing that social care contributes to – day in, day out . Social care providers already play a key role in supporting people with complex health and lifestyle needs before they reach a crisis point, aligning with the NHS’s vision of proactive, not reactive, care.
Digital focus
Another central element is the expansion of digital tools and technology, including an upgraded NHS App, AI-supported diagnostics, and shared patient records. Social care providers will need to be involved with the development and roll out of these systems to ensure seamless communication and continuity of care, particularly as more patient data and care planning becomes centralised and digitised. This creates potential opportunities to improve care quality and ideally, to reduce duplication.
Addressing health inequalities
Finally, the plan highlights the importance of addressing health inequalities, with more resources directed to underserved and disadvantaged areas. For care providers working in these communities, there may be increased funding and partnership opportunities, but with that may also come higher expectations around outcomes. 
Says Nicola: ‘The success of this ambitious plan will depend on effective collaboration from the NHS, with social care. Social care providers are not just recipients of policy changes, rather they are essential delivery partners in building a more preventive, person-centred NHS.’
- ‘Excluding social care from 10-year plan is potentially dangerous,’ says care leader – Care Home Professional
- The NHS 10 year plan places big bets on digital – Digital Health
- Will Labour’s 10-year health plan usher in a ‘new era’ for the NHS in England? – The Guardian
- Read latest reaction from Pharmacist sector here