The responses of people in Sheffield to the NHS Long Term Plan

Healthwatch Sheffield gathered feedback from 1,271 local people during 2019 to understand views on the NHS Long Term Plan and how health and care services should develop in the future. Feedback was collected through surveys, community discussions and public voting exercises involving people from a wide range of backgrounds, including young people, older people, parents, people with learning disabilities and minority ethnic communities. Four major themes emerged from the engagement: choice and control, care in local neighbourhoods, mental health and digital healthcare. 

There was strong support for prevention, personalised care and helping people maintain independence. Participants agreed that services should focus more on helping people stay well through early intervention, healthy lifestyles and community support. However, many stressed that investment in staffing, mental health services and easier access to healthcare was needed before these ambitions could be fully realised. People wanted quicker access to GPs and other services, better information about available support, improved coordination between organisations and greater recognition of community groups as partners in health and wellbeing. Respondents also highlighted the importance of culturally appropriate services, translation support and ensuring that people are actively involved in decisions about their care. 

Mental health was identified as one of the highest priorities. Participants strongly supported increased investment in mental health services, particularly for children and young people, crisis care and support in schools. People consistently called for shorter waiting times, easier access to services, more personalised and flexible support, stronger links between services and greater availability of community-based help. Respondents felt mental and physical health should be treated together and emphasised the need for earlier intervention to prevent people reaching crisis point. Parents, young people and community groups also highlighted the importance of ongoing support, better information and services that recognise individual circumstances and life experiences.

Views on digital healthcare were more mixed. While some people welcomed the convenience of online appointments, digital records and easier access to information, many were concerned that greater reliance on technology could exclude older people, people without internet access, non-English speakers and other disadvantaged groups. Respondents stressed that digital options should complement rather than replace face-to-face services and that alternative methods of accessing care must remain available. Across all themes, participants emphasised the importance of community-based services, tackling health inequalities, improving communication between services and ensuring care is person-centred, accessible and tailored to individual needs.