The Health Secretary is calling on the nation to help shape the Government’s plans to overhaul the NHS in the future.
Described as being “the biggest national conversation” about the future of the NHS since its birth all the way back in July 1948, and in a bid to form the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan, the entire country has today (21 October) been called upon to share their experiences of the nation’s health service – with members of the public, as well as NHS staff and experts, invited to have their say.
Everyone is being urged to give their views and ideas for “fixing the NHS” via an online platform that’ll be live until the start of next year, as well as through the NHS App.
In order for the Government to formulate its 10 Year Health Plan – which is set to be published in spring 2025 – the so-called public engagement exercise will be underlined by three ‘big shifts’ in healthcare.
These are hospital to community, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention.
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📢 We want to hear your experiences of the NHS and your ideas to help us change it.
— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) October 21, 2024
But what do each of these ‘big shifts’ mean? Well, first up, the Government says it wants to deliver plans for new neighbourhood health centres that are closer to homes and communities, so that patients can see GPs, district nurses, care workers, physiotherapists, mental health specialists, and more all under the same roof.
The transforming of the NHS from analogue to digital shift will put patients in control of their own medical history by bringing together a single patient record that summarises patient health information, test results, and letters, all in one place through the NHS App.
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Finally, by moving from sickness to prevention, the Government says it wants to shorten the amount of time people spend in-ill health, as well as prevent illnesses before they happen.
The Government is urging the UK public to ‘help fix the NHS’ / Credit: rawpixel
“My mum worked for the NHS, my sister worked for the NHS, and my wife still works for the NHS, so I know first-hand how difficult it has been for staff, and for patients battling against a broken system for over a decade,” explained Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as the public exercise formally launches today.
“We have a huge opportunity to put the NHS back on its feet, so let’s be the generation that took the NHS from the worst crisis in its history, and made it fit for the future.”
You can find out more and have your say on the future of the NHS here.
Featured Image – NHS Digital
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‘Prolific’ South Manchester burglar jailed for thefts which included peanuts…
Daisy Jackson
A ‘prolific’ burglar has been jailed for just over two years, for numerous thefts including sunglasses, airpods, and peanuts…
The man was caught red-handed inside someone’s property, where he claimed he was just wanting a glass of water – but was found by police officers to have the resident’s car keys in his pocket.
Fazal Alnesi, 26, from Moss Side, was then linked to a number of other burglaries, attempted burglaries, and thefts across South Manchester.
Fazal was sentenced to 27 months at Manchester Crown Court last week after pleading guilty to offences including six counts of burglary in June of this year.
He was arrested on 12 June, when a man returned to his home in Fallowfield in the early hours of the morning and discovered Fazal inside his address.
He claimed he was there because he wanted a glass of water but subsequently refused to leave, which led to police being called.
Officers placed Alnensi in handcuffs and found the resident’s car keys in his pocket, as well as indications that he’d been rummaging through the man’s drawers.
He was later linked to other thefts include a wrench set from a car, a pedal cycle worth £350, airpods, sunglasses – and even peanuts from one address.
He additionally took an electric bike charger from one address worth hundreds of pounds.
PC Jon Holden, from GMP’s City of Manchester district, said: “Alnensi took various items from several homes and cars across a two-week period earlier this year, making off with hundreds of pounds worth of goods.
“Ultimately, Alnensi left people feeling unsafe in his own home, and I am glad he is now behind bars.
“Our team will investigate all burglaries, and I would encourage people to get in touch with us – all intelligence helps us lock up criminals and bring them to justice.”
The top 10 ‘happiest’ places to live in the North West in 2026 have been named
Emily Sergeant
The top 10 happiest places to live in the North West have been named for 2026.
It comes as Rightmove has published its annual ‘Happy at Home’ index this week, just as it has done for the last 14 years now, exploring exactly what it is that makes people feel content about where they live, and highlighting the happiest places nationwide ahead of the new year – with thousands of residents across more than 200 locations providing feedback.
The residents told the leading property listing platform what they love (or don’t love) about their community, from the friendliness of their neighbours, to job opportunities, access to green spaces, and so much more.
The survey also outlined the differences in happiness in rural, urban, and suburban environments, as well as the way our sense of ‘home happiness’ changes as we age.
So, when it comes to the North West as a whole then, where do we have in the top 10?
Well, to kick things off, you may have already seen that one Lancashire market town has earned its place in the top 10 nationwide, not just for the North West region – and that’s Chorley.
Closest to the Bolton and Wigan boroughs, Chorley – which is is about a 40-minute drive outside of Manchester, and sits on a direct train route into the city centre.
But aside from the national top 10, when it comes to the regional top 10, the next two towns following Chorley in second and third are both in Greater Manchester.
The North West’s top 10 happiest places to live 2026
Chorley
Stockport
Altrincham
Chester
Macclesfield
Southport
Kendal
Wirral
Northwich
Carlisle
Altrincham has been named one of the North West’s happiest places to live / Credit: The Manc Group
The ever-thriving Stockport comes in at number two, followed by Trafford favourite Altrincham directly behind it at number three.
Other of the region’s inclusions like Bury, Bolton, Wigan, and the Manchester borough itself all ranked towards the bottom.
Speaking on this year’s list, Colleen Babcock – a property expert at Rightmove – explained: “The balance between greenery and everyday convenience runs through the wider findings. Even among people who would ideally choose a rural setting, access to amenities, parks and public transport remains important.
“This year’s results suggest that the places people rate most highly aren’t simply urban or rural, but often bring together some of the best elements of both.”
Featured Image – Roger Kidd (via Wikimedia Commons)
Emily Sergeant -
21st October 2024 
