Two local areas selected as neighbourhood health pioneers
South Bristol and Woodspring are set to benefit from improved care closer to home, as the government begins to rollout new neighbourhood health services.
South Bristol, which includes Southville, Hengrove, Brislington as well as areas in-between, and Woodspring, which covers Portishead, Clevedon, Nailsea and Pill, will now be allocated a programme lead who will work with existing local services to set up a new neighbourhood health service.
The leads will draw together a range of professions to develop a ‘neighbourhood health team’ consisting of community nurses, 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.
Neighbourhood health will benefit patients by providing end-to-end care and tailored support, looking beyond the condition at wider causes of health issues, helping to avoid unnecessary trips to hospital, prevent complications and avoid the frustration of being passed around the system.
They will initially focus on supporting people with long term conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, angina, high blood pressure, MS, or epilepsy – in areas with the highest deprivation. As the programme grows, it will expand to support other patients and priority cohorts.
The programme builds on examples of local best practice highlighted in the 10 Year Plan, where some patients are already benefitting from a joined-up neighbourhood approach. This scheme will bring the best of the NHS to the rest of the NHS.
The wave one programme is backed by £10 million and will begin on 9 September 2025 with the ambition to scale up more services over the course of the next year.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:
“We are building an NHS fit for the future, one that fits around peoples’ 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.”
Shane Devlin, Chief Executive of NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB, said:
“We’re pleased that South Bristol and Woodspring localities have received government backing to introduce neighbourhood health services. This recognition reflects the strong partnerships we have locally and our shared commitment to improving health and wellbeing closer to home. Neighbourhood health represents an exciting opportunity to transform our services and deliver innovative care approaches for the benefit of local people.”
David Jarrett, Chief Delivery Officer for NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB, said:
“It is important that we also ensure we are pioneering these schemes across our wider area. As such, we will be continuing to develop a neighbourhood health service in South Gloucestershire alongside our South Bristol and Woodspring localities. This approach means more communities can benefit from the opportunities neighbourhood health offers, helping us shape more sustainable and person-centred care for the future.”
Councillor Lorraine Francis, Chair of the Adult Social Care policy committee at Bristol City Council, said:
“This is wonderful news for the residents of South Bristol and a welcome step forward in securing valuable local health services for our city. This is an opportunity to put in place wraparound support for the cohort identified to live happier, healthier lives, and to do so in an accessible and meaningful way. It’s vital that we make the most of the local knowledge, experience and relationships in place to deliver the quality services our communities deserve. Whilst this approach is a step forward in delivering the NHS ten year plan, we will also want to ensure its robustly monitored to learn and adapt, and I look forward to working with colleagues in our health services to rollout this initiative in Bristol.”
Councillor Jenna Ho Marris, North Somerset Council Cabinet Member for Homes and Health Chair of Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Partnership Board, said:
“I am delighted that two bids have been selected from Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) Localities, Woodspring in North Somerset, as well as South Bristol. As chair of BNSSG Integrated Care Partnership, members will do everything we can to support a joined-up neighbourhood health service for residents to tackle stubborn health inequalities in our area. This is a golden opportunity to get everyone around the table – not forgetting that 80% of health outcomes is through factors outside health care.”
Neighbourhood health will redesign and join-up existing health and care services – which currently can be fractured and a maze of referrals for patients. GP leaders will be pivotal in shaping and delivering these new services and will be supported to deliver it with two new contracts from 2026. These will enable them to work over larger areas to deliver neighbourhood health services to the community.
Under the new voluntary neighbourhood health contracts, GPs can choose to be part of either a single neighbourhood or multi-neighbourhood provider. A single-neighbourhood will deliver enhanced services for around 50,000 people – while a multi-neighbourhood provider will serve around 250,000 people.
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 services will put people at their heart and connect with local communities, particularly those who face barriers in accessing traditional services.
The move will bring together leaders from across local healthcare, the voluntary sector, and the wider community to design services around communities, not organisations.