A sector umbrella body has called for charities to be more involved in the NHS 10-year health plan announced by the government last week.
The National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) published a statement earlier this week in which it urged greater involvement of the charity sector and “cross-sector collaboration” within the new 10-year plan.
It noted that the plan “seems to signal a shift away” from the charity sector, and described the reduction of Integrated Care Services (ICSs) as adding “a further layer of disruption, risking the progress made in many systems”.
The statement also raised questions about the abolition of Healthwatch England, which gathers the views and experiences of health and social care service users, noting that the organisation's absence “raises questions about the presence of an independent patient and community voice to hold the new NHS to account”.
Concerns over Healthwatch abolition and digitisation
NAVCA described being “deeply concerned” about the abolition of Healthwatch in particular, noting that many of its member charities host or work closely with the body.
Its abolition, the umbrella body said, “risks weakening accountability and assumes internal structures can replicate the trust and skill that VCSE-led models bring”.
NAVCA also said the NHS 10-year plan’s strong emphasis on digital transformation “presents both opportunities and risks”, remarking that while proposals to expand the NHS app and AI-powered care could improve access and coordination, they may further exclude marginalised groups if there is no parallel investment in digital inclusion and community capacity.
In light of this, it added, “local infrastructure organisations and ICS-VCSE Alliances have a vital role to play in bridging this gap, supporting communities to engage with new systems and ensuring digital progress does not come at the expense of equity, trust, or personal connection”.
However, NAVCA expressed concerns about the 10-year plan’s reference to linking patients to “services outside the NHS – in the voluntary sector, from social enterprises, social care, community groups or local government”.
It said the move may risk further displacing responsibility onto “underfunded VCSE services” without offering these charities appropriate support, investment and coordination to ensure they can manage such referrals.
Calls for greater investment and multi-year funding
NAVCA was also critical of the plan’s failure to directly mention the charity sector despite its proven role in addressing “upstream drivers of health” such as poverty, housing and food insecurity.
“Local VCSE organisations are well placed to lead this work, but doing so requires targeted investment, sustained partnership, and meaningful recognition of the sector’s contribution to building healthier, more resilient communities,” it said.
“From a local VCSE perspective, there is a need to explore the implications of multi-year contracts and payment-by-results models in greater depth.
“Multi-year funding could offer much-needed stability, enabling longer-term planning, workforce retention, and more sustainable service delivery. However, any move toward a ‘pay-for-performance culture’ must be approached with caution.”
NAVCA concluded by calling on the government to offer greater targeted investment, meaningful recognition, and multi-year contracts and funding in the sector in order for it to play a role in supporting the 10-year plan’s “cross-societal effort on prevention”.
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