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The plan, called , sets out a wide range of ambitious reforms to transform the health service over the next decade. It focuses on three fundamental ‘shifts’. 

With the right investment and empowerment, our profession can be at the heart of these ambitions. Throughout its development, we lobbied ministers for nursing to be central to the plan. 

Improvements that must have nursing at their core include those listed below. 

End the “disgraceful spectacle of corridor care” 

Thousands of our members told us the scale and harrowing effects of corridor care in a report we published in January 2025. We’re committed to working with the government to end corridor care in all its forms. 

Establish a neighbourhood health centre “in every community” 

According to the plan, new neighbourhood health centres will be open at least 12 hours a day, six days a week. 

Nursing staff will play a key role within these centres and multidisciplinary neighbourhood teams. For example, the plan commits to introducing neighbourhood nursing and midwifery leads to coordinate strategy and represent the community’s voice. The plan also promises to increase the number of nurse consultants, particularly in neighbourhood settings.

Create a new professional nursing strategy 

The strategy would be led by the Chief Nursing Officer and include measures to reduce the number of students leaving nursing. It would also outline how nursing staff and midwives can be supported throughout their careers. 

Make the NHS “the best employer” 

The plan says NHS staff will “be better treated and more motivated, have better training and more scope to develop their careers”. It commits to improving working lives and developing a new set of standards for working conditions. 

Reduce the number of nursing and midwifery staff leaving the profession 

The plan commits to a 1% reduction – equivalent to an additional 300 nurses and midwives joining the NHS each year. 

Improve financial support for struggling students 

The plan commits to exploring options to support students from the lowest socio-economic backgrounds. 

Make the NHS less dependent on international staff 

The plan promises to move recruitment to its own communities. The government wants to reduce international recruitment to less than 10% by 2035. 

Create more mental health emergency departments 

An extra £120m of funding has been promised to create 85 dedicated mental health emergency departments across England.