Speaking during the first day of NHS ConfedExpo 2024, Taylor said the current approach to health policy and the NHS was ‘no longer fit for purpose'.

Taylor said: ‘It's the time not just for new policies and commitments, but for a fundamental re-imagining. 

‘We could be at the dawning of the biggest change in the way we think about health policy and the role of the NHS in our 75-year history.'

Taylor said that ‘by joining up better in government to improve public health, by devolving to enable stronger local collaboration, by renewing primary care and moving resources upstream, by personalising care, empowering patients and engaging the public' we can ‘aspire to create over the next decade a radically improved model of health policy and healthcare'.

In addition, the NHS Confed boss also issued ‘five priority asks' of the next Government, namely:

•           ‘no major reorganisation of the health service' because ‘restructuring is a weapon of mass distraction', leading to ‘confusion, cost and disruption'
•           a commitment to more stable longer-term funding
•           a commitment to the long-term workforce plan ahead of a refresh next year and an equally ambitious social care workforce plan
•           action to fulfil the long-held vision of a health service that invests better upstream in prevention, in primary and in community-based care
•           a cross-governmental action plan to improve the nation's health, recognising the importance of social determinants and of health promotion and prevention beyond the NHS.