There is only an “outside chance” the overdue NHS long-term plan will be published this year, HSJ understands.

The plan – commissioned by the prime minister when she announced the NHS’s £20bn funding settlement in the summer – was initially expected to be published last month.

HSJ understands the plan is complete, but the political turmoil over Brexit has prevented it being fully reviewed by all branches of government, most notably the Treasury.

NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens said in November the plan would be out in early December, and more recently health secretary Matt Hancock said it would be unveiled “this year”.

Full story in The HSJ, 14 December 2018