The Government’s 10 Year Health Plan for England sets out a bold and ambitious vision to transform the NHS, ensuring it remains there for everyone who needs it, now and for generations to come.
Built on the voices and experiences of the public, patients, partners, and the health and care workforce, the plan focuses on three key shifts; moving care from hospital to community, embracing digital innovation, and shifting from reactive treatment to proactive prevention. These shifts will help us personalise care, empower patients, and make the best of the NHS accessible to all.
A neighbourhood health service is central to this transformation, shifting care closer to home, strengthening prevention, and supporting more joined-up, personalised care for our diverse communities.
What is a neighbourhood health service?
A neighbourhood health service will bring people, services, and communities together to help everyone live healthier, more active, and independent lives. The focus is on joining up care and support, especially for those who need extra help.
Neighbourhood working goes beyond treating illness. It supports people to stay well throughout their lives by addressing the wider factors that affect health, such as housing, employment, education, and social support. Local councils and voluntary and community organisations play a vital role alongside health services to provide support that fits people’s daily lives.
Our approach in south east London
NHS organisations, councils, and community partners across the capital have come together to create a shared plan for more coordinated, local care that meets people’s needs earlier and more effectively.
In south east London we are not starting from scratch. Instead, we are building on strong local partnerships and the great work already happening in our communities. By improving community-based services, we are bringing care closer to home, helping people stay well where they live, and feel supported.
Neighbourhood working is a key part of how we will deliver the national 10 Year Health Plan. For example:
- Shifting more care from hospital to community, including developing plans for neighbourhood health centres to meet health and wellbeing needs.
- Working towards extended access to local services delivered through neighbourhood teams.
- Reducing avoidable hospital admissions by offering earlier help and more personalised support closer to home.
What’s next?
- Over the next year, we will work with local people and partners to develop neighbourhood health and care further.
- We will listen to your feedback and join up services where it makes sense.
- We will improve how information is shared and address the broader issues affecting health and wellbeing.
- We will continue to develop our neighbourhood health service in line with the ambitions set out in the 10 Year Health Plan.
- We will continue to update this page and our borough pages as our plans evolve.
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Discover how neighbourhood working is transforming care for Francine
Neighbourhood teams
Developing neighbourhood working is central to delivering personalised, joined up, and localised care across south east London.
Our first areas of focus
We are starting in places where personalised, joined-up support can make the biggest difference. This is based on data, community insight, and people’s real experiences. We know health depends on much more than medical care, including home life, relationships, work, and access to support.
- People with three or more long-term conditions: Support that considers mental wellbeing, social help, and daily life, not just medical treatment.
- Older adults living with frailty or nearing end of life: Help to maintain independence and comfort at home, with care tailored to personal wishes and social connections.
- Children and young people with complex needs: Early, joined-up support that brings together education, health, and family services, recognising wider challenges families face.