Today the Government has announced the first 43 locations (across the country) to launch neighbourhood health services, two are in north west London.
Hillingdon and Bi-borough will be among the first neighbourhood health services in the country. The announcement comes with funding to develop and rollout this first wave of neighbourhood services, that will work to tackle health inequalities and improve waiting times.
A programme lead will work with existing local services to set up a new neighbourhood health service using General Practice as the cornerstone and draw together a range of professions to develop a ‘neighbourhood health team’. This team will consist of community nurses, hospital doctors, social care workers, pharmacists, dentists, optometrists, paramedics, social prescribers, local government organisations and the voluntary sector – giving people easier access to the right care and support on their doorstep.
Keith Spencer, Managing Director, Hillingdon Health and Care Partners: “We are absolutely delighted to have been selected as a wave one site for the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme. This recognition reflects the strength of our partnership working and our shared ambition to transform care closer to home. We look forward to working with national and local partners to pioneer new models of neighbourhood health, improve outcomes for our residents, and help shape the future of integrated care across the country.”
Rita Thakaria, Managing Director - Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Place Based Partnership: “We’re proud to have been selected to launch neighbourhood health services in Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea. This milestone reflects the strength of our shared vision, the trust built through collaboration, and the value we create together. This is a step forward in stewarding resources where they matter most, galvanising our collective ability to meet people’s needs”.
Neighbourhood health services will benefit patients by providing end-to-end care and tailored support, looking beyond the condition at wider causes of health issues, helping to avoid unnecessary trips to hospital, prevent complications. The initial focus will be on supporting people with long-term conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, angina, high blood pressure, MS, or epilepsy - in areas with the highest deprivation.
The programme builds on examples of local best practice highlighted in the 10 Year Plan, where some patients are already benefitting from a joined-up neighbourhood approach. This scheme will bring the best of the NHS to the rest of the NHS.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:
"We are building an NHS fit for the future, one that fits around peoples’ lives and is an integral part of their community.
“Neighbourhood health services fundamentally reimagine how the NHS works – bringing care closer to home while helping to tackle this nation’s shameful health inequalities.
“Through our Plan for Change, we will stop people from being bounced around a broken system as we get the health service back on its feet.”