Prime Minister Keir Starmer has launched the government’s 10-Year Health Plan, aiming to bring the NHS closer to home through a new Neighbourhood Health Service.
These centres, based in local communities, are designed to ease pressure on hospitals by shifting care into more accessible settings and improving early intervention and prevention.
Staffed by teams of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, social care workers, and volunteers, the centres will offer a full range of healthcare services under one roof, with extended hours and local outreach. Additional support services, including debt advice, employment help, and stop-smoking programmes, will also be available to address wider factors affecting health.
This plan builds on Lord Darzi’s diagnosis that the NHS is in “critical condition” due to long waiting times, low staff morale, outdated technology, and growing public health challenges. The reforms focus on three core shifts: hospital to community, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention.
Marking the NHS’s 77th anniversary, the Prime Minister also paid a personal tribute to the health service. In a video released by No10, he met Ben Huntley, the Advanced Nurse Practitioner who cared for his brother during his final weeks of life before passing away from cancer last Boxing Day. Starmer thanked Ben for the compassion and dignity shown, calling the care a “lifeline” for his family.
The emotional video reunited NHS staff with patients and their families, highlighting the impact of dedicated care workers. With deep personal ties to the NHS—his mother, sister, and wife have all worked in the service—Starmer said, “Ben, you made sure my brother felt cared for and respected. That meant everything to us.”
As part of the Plan for Change, the government is investing an additional £29 billion annually to modernise the NHS. Over the past year alone, it has delivered over 4 million extra appointments and recruited 1,900 more GPs, with a focus on reducing waiting lists and building a future-ready health service.
Despite generations of South Asian doctors and nurses shaping the NHS, health inequalities in South Asian communities remain stark. From limited access to culturally sensitive care to higher rates of diabetes, heart disease, and maternal health issues, the gaps persist. Language barriers, systemic bias, and mistrust further hinder engagement.
As Labour rolls out its 10-year NHS plan promising neighbourhood-level reform, the question remains: will it finally deliver for South Asian communities—or leave them behind once again?
Will it truly revive the NHS at all?
The government’s 10-year health plan comes at a time when the NHS is under immense pressure. For over a decade, it has struggled to provide timely access to GPs, A&E, surgery, ambulances, and mental health services.
At the same time, public trust in the system has deteriorated sharply. Polling by Ipsos ahead of the NHS’s 77th anniversary found that just one in five people are satisfied with the NHS, and around 60% feel there’s been little improvement since Labour took office. Rebuilding trust will require more than promises, it will demand delivery.
At the heart of the plan is a shift from hospital-based care to community-focused services. The government aims to establish 250–300 neighbourhood health centres across England, offering integrated care 12 hours a day, six days a week. Services will range from diagnostics and rehabilitation to smoking cessation, employment advice, and mental health support. It’s a holistic vision—but one thing in mind if it is delivered when the system is already grappling with staff shortages, morale issues, and industrial action.
The government also hopes to move the NHS from analogue to digital, with the NHS app being central to this transformation. AI-driven tools will help patients describe symptoms, receive guidance, and manage appointments independently. However, there are serious concerns about data security. Previous breaches have shaken public confidence, so how will the government ensure these systems are truly secure before encouraging widespread adoption? Digital access also raises questions about inclusivity. Many older patients, non-English speakers, and digitally excluded groups may find navigating these tools difficult.
Workforce issues pose a significant challenge to the success of the 10-year NHS plan. With NHS England reducing staffing as part of its merger with the Department of Health and Social Care, and the government aiming to lessen reliance on overseas recruitment, the burden on existing staff is unlikely to ease in the short term. While Labour has pledged to create 2,000 new nursing apprenticeships and expand medical school places, these are long-term strategies. In the meantime, the current workforce, already stretched thin, will be expected to carry the weight of an expanding service, raising serious concerns about burnout, morale, and retention.
Funding remains a major sticking point. The government has pledged an additional £29 billion annually to modernise the NHS and support its long-term plan. While this figure sounds substantial, questions remain over whether it will be enough to address the scale of the crisis—from fixing outdated infrastructure to expanding community services, training new staff, and safeguarding digital systems. Transformational change needs more than one-time injections; it requires sustained, well-targeted investment. Without that, can the government realistically deliver on its ambitious promises or is it simply stretching already strained resources further?
For South Asian communities, who have long contributed to and relied on the NHS, the plan raises additional concerns. Health inequalities remain pronounced, with higher rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. There is also evidence of mistrust and poor access, often compounded by language barriers and cultural stigma. Community groups and temples could play a major role in bridging this gap.
One promising element of the plan is the emphasis on early years and prevention through initiatives like family hubs. These could be vital for South Asian children, who often face elevated health risks. But unless these hubs are co-designed with communities and reflect cultural practices, their potential may go untapped.
In the end, the government’s vision for a modern, decentralised, AI-enabled NHS is bold, but the path to achieving it is full of structural and ethical challenges. Without adequate funding, a strong workforce strategy, and a clear plan for digital inclusion and trust, will the vision become reality or remain just another political promise?
Call for inclusive, culturally sensitive healthcare under new plan
Cultural insensitivity in healthcare delivery leads to miscommunication and mistrust among South Asian patients.
Professor Monica Lakhanpaul, Professor of Integrated Community Child Health and Honorary Consultant Paediatrician at Whittington NHS Trust, highlighted the growing strain on NHS services. “Waiting lists are longer than ever, staff morale is low, and sickness levels are rising,” she said. “We’ve lost staff and are still heavily reliant on overseas workers, despite plans to shift towards a UK-based workforce. That transition won’t happen overnight—it will take time. In the meantime, doctors and nurses are stretched thin, covering more shifts and facing mounting pressure. This creates a cycle where overwork leads to burnout and even more staff shortages.”
Addressing the barriers South Asian patients still face, Professor Lakhanpaul said, “There remains a significant mistrust of the NHS among South Asian communities, with many feeling discriminated against and struggling to access care. To change this, we need a workforce that truly reflects the communities it serves. Equally important is co-developing services with those communities—understanding their cultural and religious practices and tailoring care accordingly. This builds trust and encourages engagement.”
She also highlighted language as a persistent barrier. “There’s still heavy reliance on family members, including children, for interpretation, which can compromise confidentiality. While interpreting services exist, many are online, and evidence shows that patients prefer face-to-face support. We need to expand and improve these services to better meet the needs of diverse communities.”
Jabeer Butt OBE, Chief Executive of the Race Equality Foundation, welcomed Labour’s 10-year NHS plan but expressed disappointment at its limitations. “There are positive aspects, especially the focus on neighbourhood-level access to healthcare and treatment,” he said. “However, the plan falls short of expectations, particularly given previous commitments to tackling health inequalities. It says comparatively little about the needs of Asian and minority communities.”
Jabeer highlighted the impact of misinformation and unequal access to healthcare in minority communities, especially among those with learning disabilities. “People with learning disabilities already face shorter life expectancies,” he said, “but our research shows that individuals from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds are dying even younger than their white counterparts.”
He pointed out a stark contrast: while the average age of death for white people with learning disabilities is around 62, for Asian individuals it's just 34. “That’s a significant gap,” he added, noting that many of these deaths are from preventable causes like pneumonia.
Jabeer stressed the importance of early intervention. “If proper systems were in place, like regular annual health checks from age 14, many of these outcomes could be avoided. But there’s evidence that these services are not reaching Asian communities in the way they should.” He called for better healthcare access and monitoring to tackle these avoidable and deeply rooted inequalities.
Commenting on how community organisations and temples can support NHS outreach and education, a spokesperson from Bhaktivedanta Manor said, “This is an important area for collaboration and growth. Temple community halls offer an ideal space to promote healthy living. NHS staff could be invited to deliver talks and presentations at appropriate times, with messaging tailored to the cultural and religious setting. Linking health advice to concepts from Ayurveda, relevant scriptural references, and quotes from respected Swamis or sadhus could make these sessions more engaging and meaningful for the community.”
Experts welcome NHS plan but warn of gaps in delivery
The 10-year NHS plan has been broadly welcomed for its ambition to transform healthcare delivery, but serious concerns remain. Key challenges around infrastructure, sustainable funding, workforce capacity, and the lack of specific focus on the needs of South Asian communities risk undermining its success. Without concrete strategies to address these issues, the vision for a more inclusive, efficient, and community-centred NHS may fall short of its promise.
Founding director of British Sikh Nurses, Rohit Sagoo said, “The NHS’s new 10-year plan signals a bold shift from hospitals to communities, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention. It promises neighbourhood health centres, AI to cut admin, and tougher public health rules to tackle obesity and smoking. For nursing and midwifery, it places greater responsibility on community-based care, advanced practice, and digital readiness, yet does so without fully resolving workforce shortages, retention, or training pathways. And while visionary, the plan still lacks clarity on social care, funding, and infrastructure. Without sustained investment and support for frontline staff, this ambition risks staying on paper rather than transforming lives.”
Dr Mumtaz Patel, President of the Royal College of Physicians, welcomed the UK government’s vision for the NHS over the next decade, highlighting key commitments aligned with RCP campaigns, including outpatient care reform, a shift to neighbourhood care, and increased training opportunities.
While Dr Patel praised the plan’s recognition of NHS staff challenges, career progression, and diversity, she expressed concern over the projected staff numbers for 2035, noting that AI and technology alone won’t solve capacity issues. She called for a clear implementation strategy with detailed timeframes to ensure the plan becomes a reality.
Dr Patel also emphasised the importance of tackling social determinants of health and addressing health inequalities. She welcomed commitments to expand AI in healthcare but stressed the need for inclusive, patient-focused digital tools. She urged the government to maintain its commitment to expanding medical school and postgraduate training places, particularly in light of potential reductions in international recruitment.
Finally, she reiterated the importance of a well-resourced and supported medical workforce to meet future demand and improve care delivery, while anticipating the forthcoming reports on workforce planning and training reforms.
Amandeep Doll, Head of Engagement and Belonging at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), welcomed the Government’s ambition to transform the NHS and deliver more care in local communities. “Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians are vital to improving patient access and outcomes across community, general practice, and hospital settings,” she said. Highlighting the RPS Vision for Pharmacy, she stressed the importance of investing in pharmacy teams to ensure safe, equitable, and accessible care. “With the right support, pharmacy teams can play a transformative role in prevention and population health under the 10-year plan.”
On funding, Doll said, “Community pharmacies remain under immense economic pressure, which has impacted staff wellbeing and morale. To meet the government’s ambitions in the 10-year plan, the sector urgently needs fair and sustainable long-term funding to close the existing gap.”
Professor Habib Naqvi MBE, Chief Executive of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, welcomed the Government’s Plan for Change, calling it a step toward making the NHS more accessible and fair. “Patients will soon be able to book, cancel, and move appointments via the NHS App, and self-refer to services like mental health support, physiotherapy, and audiology—reducing GP workload and cutting waiting times,” he said.
On the funding model, Professor Lakhanpaul said Labour will need to rethink its approach. “I don’t see how the proposed changes can be delivered under the current funding model,” she said. “You can’t expect more from a system without increasing investment. If no additional funding is being promised, then there must be a clear and sustainable plan for how the money will be used differently.”
She warned that without proper resourcing, Labour risks damaging public trust. “They’ve made big promises for a healthier future, but if those aren't delivered, confidence in the government will erode. That’s a long-term problem.”
Professor Lakhanpaul also stressed the risk of further staff attrition if pressures continue. “Labour wants more community-based staff and greater support in underserved areas, but that’s not easy to achieve, especially without funding and support. If these issues aren’t addressed, we’ll continue to see staff leaving or being sick, making it impossible to implement the changes needed.”
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Digital NHS at risk without stronger safeguards
The NHS is undergoing a major digital transformation, with the aim of modernising outdated systems, improving efficiency, and delivering better patient care. From electronic health records to AI-driven diagnostics, digitalisation promises faster and more streamlined services. However, this shift has also exposed serious vulnerabilities—most notably a rise in data breaches that put sensitive patient information at risk. These developments raise pressing questions about the NHS's readiness to safeguard data in an increasingly digital world.
Speaking to Asian Voice, Abhishek Ghosh, CEO of Praeferre, cautioned against rushing into automation without safeguards. “Moving everything to AI sounds exciting, but it’s risky if not done carefully. The risks are significant—in terms of data privacy, loss of clinical judgement, and accountability. If AI systems malfunction or generate biased outputs, especially in high-stakes areas like diagnostics or triage, the consequences could be severe,” he said. “One wrong decision by an algorithm could affect thousands. Automation can certainly help with the NHS’s current bottlenecks, but we cannot afford to lose human judgement in patient care.”
Ghosh also highlighted the broader challenges of modernising NHS infrastructure, comparing it to “renovating a house while people are still living in it.” He pointed to outdated legacy systems, fragmented digital infrastructure, and slow government procurement cycles as major hurdles. “AI models need clean, standardised data, but NHS records are often incomplete, handwritten, or stored in incompatible formats,” he explained. “On top of that, we’re facing a national shortage of skilled AI and cybersecurity professionals, which only compounds the problem.”
With cyberattacks on the rise, Ghosh warned that the NHS has become an easy target. “It’s a goldmine for hackers—massive volumes of sensitive data, overworked IT teams, and outdated systems,” he said. “All it takes is one hospital running Windows XP to expose the whole system to ransomware. The attack surface spans hundreds of hospitals, GP practices, and third-party vendors, making the risk even more complex and urgent.”
A key concern for Ghosh is ensuring that patients have control over their own data—a crucial factor in building public trust. “Trust is everything,” he stressed. “If people feel disempowered or surveilled, AI adoption in healthcare will stall. Patients need transparency about how their data is being used. Regulations like GDPR and the AI Act now require that, and tools like Praeferre’s data control app give patients a way to manage consent dynamically across services.”
To make AI work safely and effectively within the NHS, Ghosh believes investment must focus on two core areas: infrastructure and governance. “We need clean, interoperable data systems, along with tools that support explainability, fairness, and audit trails throughout the AI lifecycle,” he said. “Just as important is a robust governance framework—clear accountability, ethical oversight, federated consent, and mechanisms to address patient grievances. Only then can we ensure that AI enhances care without compromising safety or trust.”
As the NHS moves towards digital services, there is growing concern about how this shift may impact older patients. A spokesperson from Bhaktivedanta Manor said, “Older members of the South Asian community may face language barriers, and many are less comfortable with modern technology such as online booking systems or QR codes. This can make it harder for them to engage with the mainstream healthcare system.”
