THE biggest ever conversation about the future of the NHS hit Somerset last weekend as part of a nationwide series of public debates about how to fix the health service.

More than 100 people from the county visited Somerset Cricket Club in Taunton on Sunday, November 24, to discuss their views of the NHS, share their experiences, and offer their suggestions for delivering a health service fit for the future.

Health Minister Karin Smyth and NHS England’s South West regional director, Elizabeth O’Mahoney, both attended. They asked people for their opinions on NHS reform and how the government’s 10-year health plan can help tackle disparities in the wider region.

The minister also got her blood pressure checked at the club as part of its Take The Pressure Off campaign – which encourages regular check-ups to reduce the risk of future complications. Following that, she visited Musgrove Park Hospital’s emergency department and discussed its hospital@home initiative – which allows clinicians to remotely monitor patients.

Opening the event, Health Minister Karin Smyth said: “I was a manager in the NHS in the South West and other parts of the country for years, and as a minister I’ve been privileged to be out and about seeing some fantastic care - but it doesn’t happen everywhere.

“We want to take the very best of the NHS to the rest of the NHS, however we know we can’t do that from Whitehall.”

Elizabeth O’Mahony, the South West’s regional director for the NHS, said the 10-year health lan “gives us a huge opportunity” to innovate, learn from best practice and build an NHS fit for the future.

She said: “We all know the NHS is facing big challenges and there are problems that need to be fixed but our staff also do amazing things every day.

“We are so grateful to everyone who has come forward to share their experiences and will be listening very closely to their ideas.”

Last month, the government issued a rallying cry to the nation – including all 1.5 million NHS staff, patients, experts, and the wider public – to visit the online platform change.nhs.uk to share their experiences, views and ideas for fixing the NHS and to help shape the plan.

Change.nhs.uk has received more than one million visits and will be live until spring, and is available via the NHS App.

Thousands of ideas to fix the health service have been submitted, with suggestions including:

All submitted ideas will be carefully considered as part of the engagement process so that we can better understand the priorities of the public, patients, and people working in health and care.