The UK Government has today (9th July) launched the first phase of its Neighbourhood Health Services programme, a flagship initiative under the 10 Year Health Plan aimed at reducing health inequalities and improving access to care in the country’s most deprived communities.
The new services will bring NHS care directly into local neighbourhoods, supporting people with complex conditions and helping them stay well at home and reducing unnecessary hospital visits to ease pressure on the wider health system.
One example of this is Team Up Derbyshire, which integrates GPs, social workers, home carers and nurses to deliver coordinated care in people’s homes.
Health and local authority leaders across England have been invited to submit applications to join Phase 1 of the programme. Successful applicants will:
- Join an intensive national coaching programme this summer
- Participate in expert-led workshops with GPs, patients, voluntary groups and local authorities
- Begin rolling out services from September 2025, with clear guidance and performance metrics
The government has committed to ensuring over 40 sites are selected, with at least one in every region of England.
The programme will prioritise working-class areas and coastal towns, where life expectancy is lowest and access to care is most limited. These areas often face challenges such as fewer GPs, longer waiting times and poorer performing services.
Women on the lowest incomes have seen life expectancy fall in recent years — a trend the government aims to reverse.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said:
“Our 10 Year Health Plan committed to building a Neighbourhood Health Service, and we’re hitting the ground running on delivering it.
“If we are to get patients cared for faster, on their doorstep and even in their own home, then we need to shift the focus of the NHS from hospitals to the community.
“Today, we are issuing an open invitation to local authorities and health services to become pioneer neighbourhood health services and lead the charge of healthcare reform.
“As part of our Plan for Change, we’re beginning the Neighbourhood Health Service in areas of greatest need first, to tackle the unfair health inequalities that blight our country.”
Neighbourhood health services will bring together multidisciplinary teams including:
- GPs, nurses, pharmacists, and paramedics
- Social care workers and health visitors
- Community health workers and volunteers
These teams will eventually operate from neighbourhood health centres, open 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, offering services such as:
- Diagnostics, rehab, and post-op care
- Debt advice, employment support, and lifestyle services (e.g. stop smoking, weight management)
A joint taskforce chaired by Sir John Oldham and made up of NHS, local authority, and voluntary sector leaders will oversee the rollout. The initiative is a key step in rebuilding the NHS from the ground up, with a focus on personalised, preventative, and place-based care.
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