DHSC and NHS England share Neighbourhood health framework
The DHSC and NHS England have published the Neighbourhood Health Framework, setting out how health and care services in England will be organised more locally over the coming decade. The aim is to improve access, strengthen prevention, and reduce reliance on hospitals by expanding care in communities.
The framework introduces a new model of neighbourhood health, where NHS organisations, local authorities and community partners jointly plan and deliver services for local populations.
Key points include:
- Creation of Integrated Neighbourhood Teams bringing together GPs, community clinicians, social care and voluntary sector partners to support people closer to home.
- A national programme to build or upgrade 250 Neighbourhood Health Centres by 2035.
- A focus on prevention and proactive support for people with frailty, long‑term conditions, children and young people, and those needing end‑of‑life care.
- Plans to move more outpatient and urgent care into community settings to ease hospital pressure.
- New outcome measures and commissioning approaches to support local integration and shift resources from acute to neighbourhood services.
Implementation begins in 2026/27, with full neighbourhood plans expected from 2027 onwards.
Click below to read the full policy paper:
