Ahead of the publication of the government’s 10-Year Health Plan this week, a new report from NHS Providers has outlined how NHS trusts across England are already reshaping neighbourhood services to deliver more personalised, preventative care closer to home.
The report, Delivering on ambitions for a ‘neighbourhood health service’, highlights innovative case studies that demonstrate how trusts are working with local authorities, GPs, voluntary organisations, and communities to shift care away from hospitals and towards integrated, community-based models.
Examples include:
- Surrey Downs Health and Care, where NHS and council teams work alongside GP federations and the voluntary sector to deliver joined-up care shaped by local neighbourhood boards.
- North Central London Health Alliance, which integrates acute, mental health, and community services with input from staff and residents.
- Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, where mental health support is embedded in communities and targeted at underserved populations.
These initiatives reflect the vision first outlined by Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting, aiming to move the NHS from a reactive system to one focused on prevention, equity, and community wellbeing.
The report urges national policymakers to learn from these local successes. It highlights the need to reform the NHS’s financial system, which currently favours hospital-based care. Between 2006 and 2022, the proportion of NHS spending on hospitals rose from 47% to 58%, reinforcing the status quo.
Daniel Elkeles, Chief Executive of NHS Providers, said:
“Just days before the 10 Year Health Plan is unveiled, this report shows how NHS trusts are already working with partners to develop and improve the way care is delivered at a neighbourhood level.
“It’s really exciting to see the difference this can make for patients while relieving pressures on other services, including reduced hospital and nursing home admissions, shorter hospital stays and lower social care costs.
“It can also make a real impact on staff recruitment as people are drawn to new ways of working.
“There are vital lessons here for the 10-year health plan. National policymakers must ensure there’s flexibility for local leaders to lead, and a financial system in place that encourages rather than hinders more care in the community.
“The foundations of a neighbourhood health service are already being developed across the country. There’s now a great opportunity to build on this for the benefit of patients, and trust leaders stand ready to play their part.”
The upcoming 10-Year Health Plan presents an opportunity to rebalance funding and support the expansion of neighbourhood health services — improving outcomes, reducing pressure on hospitals, and tackling health inequalities.
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