Millions of patients are set to be treated and cared for closer to their home by new teams of health professionals, under plans set out by Prime Minister Keir Starmer through the government’s Plan for Change.
The launch of a ‘Neighbourhood Health Service’ will see teams, some based under one roof, set up in local communities across the country, in a bid to dramatically improve access to the NHS and to shift care out of hospitals and into the community.
These neighbourhood health centres will aim to provide easier, more convenient access to a full range of healthcare services on people’s doorsteps – stopping them from having to make lengthy trip to hospitals.
Neighbourhood teams will include staff like nurses, doctors, social care workers, pharmacists, health visitors, palliative care staff, and paramedics.
Community health workers and volunteers will play a pivotal role in these teams, and local areas will be encouraged to trial innovative schemes like community outreach door-to-door – to detect early signs of illness and reduce pressure on GPs and A&E.
Reform or die
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “The NHS should be there for everyone, whenever they need it.
“But we inherited a health system in crisis, addicted to a sticking plaster approach, and unable to face up to the challenges we face now, let alone in the future.
“That ends now because it’s reform or die.
Our 10 Year Health Plan will fundamentally rewire and future-proof our NHS so that it puts care on people’s doorsteps, harnesses game-changing tech and prevents illness in the first place.
“That means giving everyone access to GPs, nurses, and wider support all under one roof in their neighbourhood – rebalancing our health system so that it fits around patients’ lives, not the other way round.
“This is not an overnight fix, but our Plan for Change is already turning the tide on years of decline with over four million extra appointments, 1,900 more GPs and waiting lists at their lowest level for two years.
“But there’s more to come. This government is giving patients easier, quicker and more convenient care, wherever they live.”
Deep rooted issues
The plan follows Lord Darzi’s report into the challenges facing the NHS last year where he assessed it was in a ‘critical condition’ as a result of deep rooted issues including low productivity, poor staff morale, a failure to keep up with new technology, rising waiting times, and a deterioration in the health of the nation.
Bringing care into the community
The plan will see new health centres house the neighbourhood teams, which will eventually be open 12 hours a day, six days a week within local communities.
They will bring historically hospital-based services into the community – diagnostics, post-operative care, and rehab – but will also offer services like debt advice, employment support and stop smoking or weight management.
Turning the NHS on its head
Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting said: “Our 10 Year Health Plan will turn the NHS on its head, delivering one of the most fundamental changes in the way we receive our healthcare in history.
“By shifting from hospital to community, we will finally bring down devastating hospital waiting lists and stop patients going from pillar to post to get treated.
“This government’s Plan for Change is creating an NHS truly fit for the future, keeping patients healthy and out of hospital, with care closer to home and in the home.”
Ending hospital by default
Government said the “status quo” of ‘hospital by default’ will end, with a new preventative principle that care should happen as locally as it can: digital-by-default, in a patient’s home where possible, in a neighbourhood health centre when needed, in a hospital if necessary.
It added this approach will make access to healthcare more convenient for patients and easier to fit around their day to day lives, rather than disrupting people’s work and personal lives.
Thousands more GPs will also be trained under the 10 Year Health Plan, while it will also aim to bring the NHS into the digital age, making sure staff benefit from the advantages and efficiencies available from new technology.
This includes rolling out new tools over the next two years to support GPs. AI scribes will end the need for clinical note-taking, letter drafting, and manual data entry to free up clinicians’ time to focus on treating patients.
Digital telephony
Government will also use digital telephony so all phone calls to GP practices are answered quickly.
For those who need it, they will get a digital or telephone consultation the same day they request it.
New contracts will be introduced which encourage and allow practices to cover a wider geographical area – meaning smaller practices in the catchment area will get more support to ensure the right access is in place so that everyone can access their GP when they need to.
Huge opportunity
Sir James Mackey, CEO at NHS England said: “The Neighbourhood Health Service is a huge opportunity for us to transform how we deliver care over the next decade – starting right on people’s doorsteps.
“By bringing together a full range of clinicians as one team, we can deliver care that’s more accessible, convenient and better for patients, as well as reducing pressures on hospitals.”
Difficulties accessing a dentist
The plan will also deliver on the government’s promise to tackle difficulties in accessing dental care.
Dental care professionals will work as part of neighbourhood teams, where dental therapists could undertake check-ups, treatment, and referrals, while dental nurses could give education and advice to parents or work with schools and community groups.
The work therapists cannot do would be safely directed to dentists.
Under the plan, it will also be a requirement for newly qualified dentists to practice in the NHS for a minimum period, intended to be three years.
Following the government’s work already to roll out supervised toothbrushing for kids, the plan will also aim to improve access to dental care for children, making better use of the wider dental workforce, especially dental therapists, including through a new approach to upskilling professionals to work at the top of their clinical potential beginning in 2026 to 2027.
This includes proposals to allow dental nurses to administer fluoride varnish for children in between check-ups, and the greater use of fissure sealants for children – covering back teeth with thin plastic coating to keep germs and food particles out the grooves.
Vital step
Matthew Taylor, CEO of the NHS Confederation, said: “This is a vital step towards a more preventative, community-based NHS.
“Bringing care closer to people’s homes through blended neighbourhood health teams recognises the complex and interconnected challenges many patients face, and it is the right direction for both improving outcomes and alleviating pressure on hospitals.
“In many areas of the country, general practices working at scale through primary care networks and GP Federations, are already partnering alongside other organisations to deliver joined up care. It will be important to build on these positive successes.
“Delivering on this ambition will require sustained investment in digital and estates, support for the NHS’s workforce, and a commitment to decentralise national control by empowering local leaders to do what is best for their populations.
“On behalf of our members, we are eager to work with the government to help turn this bold vision into lasting change.”
