The health minister visited Kent today to hear from more than 100 people who turned out to share their views on the NHS.

The conversation was headed by te government’s Baroness Gillian Merron and NHS England chief strategy officer, Chris Hopson at Leas Cliff Hall in Folkestone today (December 1).

As part of the event, citizens shared their ideas on how to reshape the NHS as part of the government's 10-year health plan.

It comes as data from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) revealed a waiting list of more than 243,000 people at the Kent and Medway integrated care board, with more than 8,000 of those waiting for treatment for more than a year.

During the event, Baroness Merror and Mr Hopson outlined their commitment to transforming the NHS and asked people their opinions regarding reform and tackling disparities in healthcare within the region.

They also visited a patient who benefits from the Frailty Home Treatment Service, which provides individualised treatment and care to frail patients in crisis – as part of the government’s focus on shifting healthcare from hospitals to communities.

NHS England chief strategy officer, Chris Hopson, said: “If we’re to modernise the NHS it’s absolutely vital that we take on board the thoughts and ideas of everyone who uses it and works in it on a daily basis.

The event forms part of a government initiative to encourage the wider public to visit the online platform change.nhs.uk to share their experiences and ideas for fixing the NHS to help shape the plan.

The site will be live until spring 2025 and is available via the NHS app, and the public engagement exercise will be used to shape the 10-year health plan.

Baroness Merron said: “The NHS needs to be thriving and meeting the demands for many years ahead. That is why we're doing what is actually the biggest consultation in the whole of the NHS’s life.”