THE NHS in mid and south Essex has today (Wednesday, 5 July), published its five-year plan for local health and care services. 

The NHS Mid and South Essex Joint Forward Plan sets out how local NHS organisations plan to meet the needs of everyone in mid and south Essex over the next five years. 

To read the plan, visit the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System website:  www.midandsouthessex.ics.nhs.uk. 

Split into three parts, the plan explains the collective ambitions and shared commitments of NHS partners, how they intend achieve them and how they will deliver on the national NHS Long Term Plan commitments. 

A statement says the plan will develop over time and be updated each year, based on the conversations with local people, staff and partners recognising the collective strength in working together to resolve the challenges and share successes.   

Professor Michael Thorne CBE, Chair of the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board said: "I am delighted to present this, our first NHS Joint Forward Plan, as the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System. 

"At the heart of our work is the desire to improve the health of the local population by working in partnership with others including local authorities, public health teams, health and social care professionals, service providers and residents themselves.   

"The plan includes proposals to address more immediate priorities around improving urgent and emergency care, primary care and mental health services, reduce waits for planned treatments, surgery and care, as well as improve the financial position. 

"Achieving the ambitions of a new NHS five-year plan will mean working differently, shifting focus from treatment to prevention and better support for people to make healthier choices whilst improving local services and the way care is provided. The duty and shared commitment of all the NHS organisations will always be to ensure that our communities receive high-quality, accessible healthcare both now and in the future."