What does the NHS 10-Year Plan mean for people with MS?

Following that conversation, the government and NHS have published their 10-Year Health Plan. This sets out their vision for the NHS and how care will be delivered across England over the next decade.

What’s in the 10-Year Health Plan?

The plan commits to:

• ‘Neighbourhood health’ - shifting more care out of hospitals and into the community
• focusing on prevention and early intervention to help people stay healthier for longer
• making better use of digital tools and data to improve care

These commitments reflect important priorities for the NHS. But many people with MS already face long waits, limited access to the right treatments, and inconsistent support in the community. So the challenge lies in turning these ambitions into real, practical improvements on the ground.

What do we think?

We welcome the long-term commitment to changing how care is delivered for people with MS over the next 10 years. Especially the aim to bring care closer to home. For many, travelling long distances to access support is a real challenge, so making care more local could ease that burden.

But it’s vital that this shift delivers what people with MS actually need. Bringing care closer to home must mean access to specialist treatment, neurorehabilitation, and, where needed, timely diagnosis in their communities. 

It’s also essential that these new local services work with specialist services to ensure seamless, coordinated support. This should be done alongside and supported by the charity sector.

We also have concerns about how these plans will be put into practice given the current pressures on the NHS. Bodies that plan and fund health services are facing up to 50 percent cuts to running costs. This risks stretching vital services for people with MS too thin.

What we’re calling for now

We want to see the NHS 10-Year Health Plan deliver real improvements for people with MS. We need a dedicated plan for neurology services. The plan should set out how commitments will be put into action. Including how access to treatments will be improved, and community-based support will be expanded and funded.

What are we doing?

We’re committed to working closely with the NHS to ensure that people living with MS receive the care and support they need. We'll continue to share our knowledge and expertise, provide vital services, and offer help where there are gaps in care. Strong partnerships between the NHS and health charities are essential to making the ambitions of the 10-Year Health Plan a reality.

Laura Thomas, our Head of Policy and Evidence, says: 

“It’s encouraging to see the NHS 10-Year Health Plan shows a long-term commitment to changing the way care is delivered, which should include people with MS. 

"MS can be debilitating, exhausting and unpredictable, and timely diagnosis, access to disease modifying therapies and specialist treatment, like physio and neuro rehab, is vital. 

"Many are forced to travel long distances to access support, so bringing care closer to home will be key – but how this will work in reality, given the current pressures on the NHS, is a real concern.

“Changes such as working alongside charities to improve support for people with a new diagnosis are welcome and we are willing to work with the NHS on this. Ultimately, we need a dedicated delivery plan for Neurology that sets out how national ambitions will be translated into action. This will ensure the plan leads to real improvements for people with MS.”