Creating the future of care together
Fit for the Future describes our ambition for how services will be delivered in the future and how we turn our Group Strategy into action.
It brings together the plans and programmes that will help us change and improve how we provide care and support our patients, our people and our population for the future.
Our ambition is to create a healthier population and a more sustainable health and care system, with:
- Healthy Neighbourhoods
- care closer to home (community first)
- planned care hubs
- two acute hospitals.
Together, these will help us provide the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
Fit for the Future is not a single programme or project. It is the overall approach that brings together the different plans and programmes needed to deliver our future model of care.
Why do we need to change?
People’s health and care needs are changing.
We are seeing:
- increasing demand for services
- people living with more complex health needs
- pressure on our workforce
- challenges with access, waiting times and patient pathways
- health inequalities
- increasing pressure on NHS resources.
We need to change how we work so that we can continue to provide safe, high-quality and sustainable care for the future.
This is not change for change’s sake. It is about making sure our services can meet the needs of our patients, our people and our population now and in the future.
What are we trying to achieve?
We want to create a health and care system that:
- supports people to stay well and live independently
- provides more care closer to home
- makes it easier for people to access the care they need
- provides joined-up pathways between services
- uses our hospitals in the best way
- makes better use of our staff, buildings, technology and resources
- is safe, high quality and sustainable for the future.
Our future model of care is built around Healthy Neighbourhoods, care closer to home, planned care hubs and two acute hospitals.
How are we making this happen?
Fit for the Future brings together a number of plans and programmes that work together to deliver our future model of care.
Clinical Services Plan
The Clinical Services Plan sets out how our clinical services need to change and develop to meet the needs of our population in the future.
It helps us consider the services people need, how care should be organised, how pathways can work better, where care can be provided, how we can improve quality and outcomes, and how we can make services clinically sustainable.
Fit for the Future Transformation Programme
The Transformation Programme is about changing how we organise and deliver care so that we can make the future model of care a reality.
It includes work across areas such as:
- Community Care
- Elective Care
- Outpatients
- Diagnostics
Plans that support the transformation
The Clinical Services Plan and Transformation Programme are supported by a range of underpinning plans, including:
- Estates Master Plan
- Quality and Safety Plan
- People Plan
- Digital Plan
- Green Plan.
Together, these plans and programmes provide the framework for how we develop services and ways of working for the future.
What does Fit for the Future mean for our patients, our people and our population?
For our patients
Fit for the Future is about creating services that are:
- easier to access
- more joined up
- closer to home where appropriate
- designed around people’s needs
- safe and high quality
- sustainable for the future.
Where appropriate, changes should help patients experience fewer delays, clearer pathways and care that is better coordinated around their needs.
For our people
Fit for the Future is about creating the conditions for our people to provide the best possible care and shape how we work in the future.
Changes may create opportunities to:
- work differently
- improve services and pathways
- reduce duplication
- make better use of skills and resources
- work more closely across services and organisations
- use digital tools and innovation
- develop new skills and ways of working.
Our people should be involved in shaping change, with clear information about what is changing, why it is changing and where they can influence the future.
For our population
Fit for the Future is about responding to the changing health needs of the people and communities we serve.
It means working towards a healthier population by:
- supporting people to stay well
- preventing ill health
- intervening earlier where possible
- tackling health inequalities
- providing care closer to home
- working with partners and communities
- making sure services are sustainable for future generations.
This is about improving health as well as providing healthcare.
Creating the future together
We want to work with our patients, our people, our population and our partners to help shape the future.
Our patients bring the experience of using our services.
Our people bring the experience and expertise of delivering care.
Our communities and partners bring a wider view of the health needs and priorities of the population we serve.
Together, these perspectives can help us develop better services for the future.
Have your say
Engagement is an important part of Fit for the Future.
We want to hear about:
- your experiences of using our services
- what works well
- what does not work well
- what matters most to you
- what you think could be different
- what would make care easier to access and navigate.
We will involve people early where there is an opportunity to influence, be clear about what is already decided and what is still being explored and explain how people can contribute.
Current engagement opportunities
Find out about upcoming engagement events, workshops and other opportunities to get involved.
Current engagement opportunities
What we’ve heard and what we’re doing
Listening is an important part of Fit for the Future.
We will share what we hear from our patients, our people and our population and explain how this insight is being used to shape our plans.
Where decisions are made, we will be clear about:
What we heard – the feedback, experiences and ideas people shared with us.
What we did – how that feedback was considered and what action was taken.
Why we did it – the reasons for the decisions and how they relate to the needs of our patients, people and population.
Sandwell and West Birmingham: Your views, shaping the future
In July 2026, we held a Fit for the Future public workshop in West Bromwich, bringing together 47 people including local residents, patients and community representatives, health and care partners, local government and voluntary, community and faith organisations. Participants heard about our Group Strategy and why we need to change, and then shared their experiences, priorities and ideas about how services could develop in the future.
The discussions explored community care, planned care, outpatients, diagnostics and neighbourhood health. People recognised the strengths of caring and skilled staff, examples of well-coordinated care and the important role played by local community organisations. They also highlighted challenges around access, communication and navigation, joined-up care and knowing what support is available. People told us they want services to be easier to access, more flexible and better connected, with clear and accessible information and greater choice in how they communicate with services.
There was also a strong message about the importance of local communities in supporting health and wellbeing. Participants wanted us to build on trusted local organisations and community settings, put greater emphasis on prevention and early support, and involve people in shaping, testing and reviewing future changes. They also stressed that digital services should provide choice rather than become a barrier to care.
What we will explore next
The next stage of engagement will build on these themes, with a particular focus on communication that works for everyone and care closer to home and stronger communities. We will explore what accessible communication looks like for different communities, how digital and non-digital options can work together, and how future approaches to care closer to home can build on the strengths already present in local communities.
Read more:
- • Your views, shaping the future – Sandwell and West Birmingham workshop summary
- • Sandwell and West Birmingham Fit for the Future Public Workshop – Engagement Report
Key documents
You can find the key plans and documents that support Fit for the Future below.
Group Strategy
Our Group Strategy sets out our shared purpose, vision and ambitions for the future.
Clinical Services Plan
Sets out how our clinical services need to change and develop to meet the needs of our population in the future.
Group Clinical Services Plan 2026-2031
Have a question or want to get involved?
email: swbh.engagement@nhs.net