Local Community is named in the Government’s initial roll out of neighbourhood health services

North West Leicestershire has been named as one of the first 43 places across the country that are set to benefit from improved care closer to home, as the Government begins to roll out new neighbourhood health services.

In the recent Ten-Year Health Plan, the Government promised a shift from hospital to community to help deliver an NHS fit for the future. The roll out of neighbourhood health services is a key step towards that goal. Each of the 43 areas, including North West Leicestershire, will be allocated a programme lead who will work with existing local services to set up a new neighbourhood health service.

The leads, using general practice as the cornerstone, will draw together a range of professions to develop a neighbourhood health team consisting 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.

The 43 wave one sites have been selected as pioneer areas for neighbourhood health services. They will eventually bring health and care services such as diagnostics, mental health, outpatients, post-op, rehab, nursing and social care closer to home.

The announcement follows the news of an additional 5 million appointments in the NHS during the past year, including 152,484 across Derby, Leicester and Nottingham Hospital Trusts.

Welcoming the news, Amanda Hack said:

“I’m delighted that our community has been chosen as one of the first to benefit from the roll out of neighbourhood health services as part of the Government’s promised shift from hospital to community. Currently, people have to travel to Leicester, Derby, Nottingham or further afield for vital support. This move will provide a more accessible, joined-up NHS.

The North West Leicestershire GP Federation have been working hard to find innovative ways of working to improve patient care, and I was pleased to see some of this work being recognised at the recent patient safety awards. This next step will bring the best of the NHS to the rest of the NHS, and I’m proud that locally we will be part of that initial roll out.”

Rachna Vyas, Chief Operating Officer of Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland Integrated Care Board, who leads the neighbourhood programme, highlighted the importance of collaboration saying:

“We are proud of the strong community partnerships we have developed across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Our local authorities, community and voluntary groups and the NHS are working together with local people to design and deliver connected health and care services.  As part of this NHS England programme, we believe we will be able to provide even more integrated care, helping people live independently for longer.”

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

“We are building an NHS fit for the future, one that fits around people’s 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.”