A NEW approach to 'reform the health service' across the UK could be piloted in Workington - after the town's MP made representations to the Health Secretary and asked health leaders locally to 'be ready' for any new programmes from government.

Whitehaven and Workington MP Josh MacAlister has made representations to the Health Secretary Wes Streeting asking for Workington to be considered for the 'unique opportunity' of being considered as a pilot area for the government's new plan for integrated neighbourhood health services.

Mr MacAlister said: “Our NHS is broken, but not beaten. The new Labour government has started the hard work of fixing the mess left by previous governments over the last 14 years.

“Part of this work involves creating integrated neighbourhood health services, bringing a range of services together under one roof to improve access for patients.

“The government is in the early stages of planning for this, but I’ve already started making the case to the Health Secretary for Workington to be a pilot area for this approach.

“The new diagnostic centre set to open next year gives us the ideal space and a unique opportunity to look at how we can better deliver joined up health services in West Cumbria outside a hospital setting.

“I’ve written to local health bosses to ask that work be started to draw up a proposal for this Neighbourhood Health Centre ready for any government pilot programme to give us the best chance of success.”

A public engagement exercise is currently underway which will help shape the government’s 10-Year Health Plan, due to be published in spring 2025.

It is understood that over the coming months the Department of Health and Social Care will look to identify and work with local systems to help evaluate the conditions for a successful Neighbourhood Health Service.

The service will be developed based on current examples of best practice from across the country.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “This government’s 10-Year Health Plan will reform the health service and make it fit for the future, shifting healthcare from hospital to community, analogue to digital and sickness to prevention.

“We are committed to moving towards a neighbourhood health service, with more care delivered in local communities to spot problems earlier and help people to stay healthier for longer.”