The government has published its neighbourhood health framework, setting out its targets and expectations from the NHS in the medium and long-term as the health service plans to transition more services to neighbourhood health centres.
The policy paper has been co-produced with leaders from primary care, mental health, community and acute providers, as well as leaders in local government and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). It states an ambition to deliver 250 Neighbourhood Health Centres (NHCs) by 2035, 120 of which by 2030. These will be a mixture of repurposed, underused estate and new builds, with 20% of new builds funded from public capital and the rest (80%) from public-private partnerships.
In the foreword to the framework, Minister of State for Care Stephen Kinnock says: “Neighbourhood health will only work as a joint endeavour between the NHS and local authorities, alongside wider partners. We expect this to be a truly collaborative effort between all partners, combining the NHS’s responsibility for our health services with local authorities’ responsibility for adult and children’s social care services and public health. This will foster a true partnership for the benefit of all citizens to ensure we achieve the left shift from hospital to community, and sickness to prevention.”
Estates planning
The wave 1 pipeline for 2026-2027 will focus on repurposing existing NHS buildings, largely from the estates of NHS Property Services and LIFT (NHS Local Improvement Finance Trust), in areas of highest deprivation. Subsequent waves are under development, to include further repurposed estate alongside new builds.
Further guidance is being developed for systems to inform estates planning around neighbourhood health. On a national level, this work aims to align with neighbourhood mental health centres and community diagnostic centres, and systems will be asked to consider if plans can complement and build upon existing programmes. On a local level, planning will need to be led by ICBs working with local partners to optimise opportunities from the ‘One Public Estate’ as well as broader growth, housing agendas and investments in local areas.
Breaking down the target
In the 2026-2027 financial year, ICBs are expected to prioritise the fundamentals at pace and to work with local partners to make the changes required to deliver neighbourhood health.
Longer term planning (April 2027 – May 2029) will see the NHS and local authorities working together with other partners to deliver the fundamental changes that the government wants to see. ICBS and HWBs are expected to develop a locally-owned neighbourhood health plan for implementation from at least 2027-2028 financial year.
Two sessions at HEFMA’s 2026 National Leadership Forum (Royal Armouries, Leeds, May 27-29) will focus on transitioning to a neighbourhood health service. Take a look at the full programme and book your delegate place.
