Q members reflect on the NHS 10-Year Health Plan for England: David Seamark

The Q community is sharing member reflections on the NHS 10-Year Health Plan for England. Insights from Q members are being published on key shifts outlined in the plan -  moving care from hospital to community, prioritising prevention and increasing the use of digital. 

An opinion piece by Dr David Seamark, CHA President is available on the Q website and adds the perspective of community hospitals to this discussion. Read the full repsonse here 

Our response to the NHS 10 Year Plan for England

As the voice of community hospitals and community hubs, our members welcome the plan and the opportunity it presents.

Community Hospitals and Community Hubs provide local, valued community-based services and facilities, and play a vital role in local NHS systems.   They are well-placed to further develop as Neighbourhood Services and serve a key role in the Government's 10 Year Plan.

The CHA supports 500 community hospitals and hubs in remote, rural and coastal areas across the UK, including 346 in England.  Our members can provide case study examples of where these existing services already help in moving hospital to community, moving sickness to prevention and moving analogue to digital. 

The CHA will continue to work with members to demonstrate how community hospitals and hubs operate as centres for local health and wellbeing, and with investment have the potential to contribute significantly to the Government's ambition to improve the health of the nation.  

Read the full policy here 10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future

Submission by the Community Hospitals Association to the Health and Social Care Committee’s Expert panel -  evaluation of palliative care in England

March 2025 

Dr David Seamark, President of the Community Hospitals Association has submitted a response to the Health and Social Care Committee’s Independent Expert Panel in their evaluation of palliative care in England

Community hospitals play a vital role in palliative and end of life care, particularly in rural and small-town communities. They provide care close to home, ensuring patients receive compassionate support from familiar staff. Many act as ‘rural hospices’, offering symptom control, emotional and spiritual care, and access to specialist teams. As part of the local community, they provide a valued alternative to acute hospitals. However, closures and bed reductions threaten this essential service. The CHA urges policymakers to recognise and protect the role of community hospitals in delivering high-quality palliative care.

Read the full submission here