Around 100 frontline NHS staff from across the South West will be joined by NHS England directors in Taunton today (4^th March 2025) to discuss what they want to see from the government’s 10 Year Health Plan.

It is the last in a series of events where frontline NHS staff across the breadth of the NHS workforce, as well as social care and public health staff, will come together to reshape the health service.

The discussions will be led by independent facilitators, with senior NHS figures in attendance to hear the views of NHS staff on what the future of the NHS should look like.

Joining today’s event will be NHS England’s Director for Staff Experience and Leadership Development, Prof Em Wilkinson-Brice, and NHS South West Regional Chief Nurse Sue Doheny.

Staff have been nominated to attend across a range of professions, care settings and communities, including GPs, nurses, optometrists, consultants, porters, pharmacists and more to ensure any impact on local services is kept to a minimum.

Part of the biggest listening event in NHS history, it follows seven nationwide public debates and a series of online staff events that took place last year about building a 10 year plan to make the NHS fit for future generations.

Health Minister Karin Smyth:  

“NHS patients should be able to access care closer to home in their community. Instead, we’ve inherited a broken NHS leaving far too many on hospital waiting lists awaiting treatment.

“We’re building a neighbourhood health service that can deliver care locally to reverse this trend with our 10 Year Health Plan. So we can bring the best of the NHS to the rest of the NHS, we need to hear from staff to learn what is and isn’t working.

“That’s why today’s event in Taunton is so important. Even if you’re not at one of our events, we still want to hear your views at change.nhs.uk.”

Professor Em Wilkinson-Brice, Director for Staff Experience and Leadership Development for England, said:

“Our hardworking staff know what is needed to transform the NHS and their views and ideas are an essential part of shaping the 10-year health plan. We want to hear your experiences, including the good, bad, and sometimes frustrating, because many of the solutions that will enable us to deliver the care we all want for patients, are already out there in parts of the NHS. That’s why today’s event in Taunton is so important, because it gives colleagues the chance to have their say and make their voices heard.”

A further six listening events have already been carried out across the England last month in Liverpool, Sheffield, Sutton Coldfield, London, Reading, and Peterborough.

There’s still time for the public to share their experiences, views and ideas for fixing the NHS on change.nhs.uk or via the NHS App. Change.nhs.uk has already received 1.5 million separate visits, with over 11,000 ideas now live on the site.

For further information please contact england.swcomms@nhs.net