Helping people get great care close to home
Why neighbourhood health matters
National plans set the direction for health and care. But real change happens where people live. Neighbourhood health means:
- care is planned and delivered close to home
- services work together so people are not passed around
- support is built around local needs, not around single organisations
Neighbourhoods are where prevention, early help, ongoing care, and crisis support come together.
What neighbourhood health is
Neighbourhood health brings our main ways of working into one place. This includes:
- prevention – helping people stay well
- proactive care – spotting problems early
- coordination – making sure services share information and plans
- crisis support – giving fast help when someone’s health suddenly gets worse
All of this is organised around people and communities.
Who is involved in neighbourhood health
Many organisations work together to support each neighbourhood. Each one brings different strengths.
Primary care and community health services
GP practices and community teams are the main anchor for neighbourhood care. They:
- provide ongoing care for long‑term conditions
- check in with people before problems get worse
- link with other services so people have one clear plan.
We are working with partners to create neighbourhood health plans. More detailed primary care action plans will be published in spring 2026.
Larger NHS providers
Hospitals and specialist services will still deliver expert care. They will also:
- work closely with neighbourhood teams
- support earlier help to avoid hospital admissions
- help people leave hospital safely and sooner.
This will reduce avoidable hospital use and improve people’s experience.
Voluntary and community organisations
These groups often know local people best. They help with:
- prevention and early help
- social support, such as tackling loneliness
- wider needs like money worries, food, and daily living.
Their trusted relationships help improve access and fairness, especially for people who have not been well served in the past.
Local authorities
Councils are key partners. They help to:
- improve public health
- join up health, care, housing, jobs, and community support
- support people to live well in their communities.
How we will make this work
Our role is to bring all partners together into one clear neighbourhood offer. We will:
- set clear outcomes for local people
- share responsibility across organisations
- reduce duplication and fragmentation.
We will use approaches that support joint working, such as provider collaboratives and lead provider arrangements. These models support shared responsibility for outcomes at neighbourhood level.
Using data and digital tools
Neighbourhood teams will be supported by:
- shared data so teams can plan together
- digital tools such as online booking
- systems that help teams spot who needs support early.
What this means for residents and communities
Neighbourhood health will become the normal way we organise care. It will be:
- part of everyday practice, not a one‑off programme
- joined up across different providers
- fair, sustainable, and focused on reducing inequalities
Our aim is high‑quality care for every community we serve, close to where people live.