Delivering our NHS vision and priorities
Our vision is to build a high-quality, community-centred health and care system by 2035.
This means three clear changes in how care is delivered:
- more care in people’s homes and local communities
- better use of digital tools and technology
- a stronger focus on preventing ill health
These three shifts are at the heart of the national NHS 10‑year plan. They aim to move the system from hospital-based, reactive care to a more local, proactive model that helps people stay well for longer.
Our local approach
In Lancashire and South Cumbria, our five-year strategic plan sets out how we will deliver these changes between 2026 and 2031.
We will:
- improve health outcomes and reduce inequalities
- strengthen neighbourhood-based and primary care services
- deliver more joined-up care across organisations
- use digital technology to support access, quality and efficiency
This includes a clear shift away from reactive, hospital-centred services towards prevention, early intervention and care closer to home.
We will do this in partnership with NHS providers, local authorities, and the voluntary and community sector. Strong partnerships are essential to deliver sustainable services and better outcomes for our population.
Delivering the three shifts
We are already making progress across Lancashire and South Cumbria.
From hospital to community
We are expanding services that support people closer to home.
Examples include:
- community-based care teams helping people avoid hospital admission
- services designed to support people at home after illness or surgery
- neighbourhood models bringing health, care and wider support together
These approaches reduce pressure on hospitals and improve patient experience by offering care in more convenient settings.
From analogue to digital
We are increasing the use of digital tools to improve access and outcomes.
Examples include:
- remote monitoring and virtual wards supporting people at home
- digital access to services and appointments
- shared care records to support joined-up working across organisations
Digital services allow people to access care more easily and help staff work more efficiently.
From treatment to prevention
We are focusing more on helping people stay well and reducing future demand on services.
Examples include:
- earlier diagnosis and screening programmes
- support to manage long-term conditions in primary care
- partnership work to tackle the wider causes of poor health
Prevention and early intervention are key to improving outcomes and reducing inequalities over time.
We also use our public Board meetings to show how this work is taking shape in practice. Each meeting includes a real example from across Lancashire and South Cumbria, often drawn from lived experience, to highlight how services are working differently and where we are investing in change.
This helps us demonstrate how we are shifting resources towards prevention, community services and digital approaches, and how this is improving care for local people. By sharing this evidence openly, we can track progress, stay accountable, and ensure that investment in these ‘left shift’ priorities is making a measurable difference.
Our challenges
Lancashire and South Cumbria remains one of the most financially challenged systems in the NHS.
We are currently spending beyond our means, with a significant financial gap. This means we must reduce costs while improving care.
We will need to:
- prioritise services more clearly
- reduce duplication and waste
- deliver care in more efficient ways
Some changes will be difficult and may involve delivering services differently. Any proposed changes will be clinically led and will involve appropriate engagement with patients, staff and partners.
Looking ahead
Despite these challenges, we have strong foundations to build on.
Across Lancashire and South Cumbria, we already see:
- dedicated staff delivering high-quality care
- effective partnership working
- positive examples of innovation and improvement
By building on this and staying focused on the three shifts, we can create a more sustainable system that improves outcomes and supports healthier communities over the long term.