Agenda item

The Department of Health & Social Care published a Neighbourhood Health Framework on 17^th March 2026 - Neighbourhood health framework - GOV.UK. The Framework sets out the key requirements associated with delivering on the governments ambition to embed neighbourhood health at the heart of bringing care into local communities; convening professionals into person-centred teams; and ending fragmentation. It also provides the platform for transforming access to general practice and preventing unnecessary hospital admissions whilst simultaneously supporting reintegration of healthcare into the social fabric of places.

Under the guidance of the Health & Wellbeing Board, system partners are expected to work together to develop a locally owned neighbourhood health plan ready for implementation from 2027/2028. The document describes the expected core elements of neighbourhood health plans. 

The Deputy Director of Place (BCP), NHS Dorset, presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Department of Health & Social Care published a Neighbourhood Health Framework on 17^th March 2026 - Neighbourhood health framework - GOV.UK. The Framework set out the key requirements associated with delivering on the governments ambition to embed neighbourhood health at the heart of bringing care into local communities; convening professionals into person-centred teams; and ending fragmentation. It also provided the platform for transforming access to general practice and preventing unnecessary hospital admissions whilst simultaneously supporting reintegration of healthcare into the social fabric of places.

Under the guidance of the Health & Wellbeing Board, system partners were expected to work together to develop a locally owned neighbourhood health plan ready for implementation from 2027/2028. The document described the expected core elements of neighbourhood health plans. 

To support preparation for implementation, the guidance also set out key actions to be completed during 2026/2027 as part of developing the local plan: 

·       Agree the neighbourhood footprints around natural communities for the future development of INTs

·       agree plans to establish Integrated Neighbourhood Teams focused on high priority cohorts, including how devolving care budgets could work in their area.

Work had already commenced in relation to these two points with the Dorset Neighbourhood Health & Wellbeing Programme well established and dedicated workstreams in situ. High priority cohorts had been identified with pilot schemes developed. Neighbourhood geographies (footprints) were actively being considered with a proposed timetable for Health & Wellbeing Board agreement in October.  

Separate national guidance regarding enabling Neighbourhood Health Centres was also published late April with an NHS England requirement to complete an initial precis of a potential pipeline of schemes for consideration under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. Specific eligibility criteria were set out including the need for an onsite GP surgery. Short turnaround times allied to the level of detail requested had restricted the initial pipeline of schemes included for BCP Place to known and existing unfunded opportunities:

·       Boscombe: Hawkwood Road / Kings Park Campus - Archetype 1: Hub-and-Spoke / Upgrade, Repurpose or Extend Existing NHS Estate

·       Poole Parkstone - Archetype 4: Purpose-Built Neighbourhood Health Centre

·       Poole Town Centre - Archetype 2: Repurposed Community or Civic Spaces

Existing funded work included the development Winton Neighbourhood Health Centre which is scheduled to be open during the summer of 2026.

Beyond the initial three identified schemes, ongoing consideration as part of neighbourhood plans would be given to further NHC opportunities across Christchurch and other neighbourhoods across Bournemouth and Poole.

The Board discussed the report, including:

• Board Members welcomed the comprehensive report and acknowledged the opportunity presented by the neighbourhood health agenda to improve health and wellbeing outcomes across BCP. 
•  A representative from Healthwatch highlighted the importance of involving communities at an early stage of development and offered to share learning from ongoing work examining access to GP services and women's health initiatives. 
• Concern was raised regarding the proposed abolition of Healthwatch and the potential loss of an independent patient voice. It was noted that people experiencing health inequalities may be less likely to share their experiences directly with statutory organisations. 
•  Members welcomed the framework's emphasis on co-design, community engagement and the role of the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector. 
• It was noted that, while the framework identified civil society and community organisations as key partners in delivery, further consideration would be needed regarding how the VCSE sector could be coordinated and supported effectively at scale. 
• Members highlighted the opportunity to develop a clear model for integrating community groups and organisations into neighbourhood health delivery arrangements. 
• Officers agreed that the VCSE sector should be recognised as a key delivery partner and advised that this would form part of the first phase of development. 
• The Board noted that existing place-based partnership arrangements and stakeholder groups would be used to help inform neighbourhood planning, commissioning and delivery arrangements. 
•  Members emphasised the importance of recognising and supporting carers within the development of neighbourhood health services and suggested that this should be reflected more strongly in future work. 
•  In response, officers welcomed the comments made and confirmed that the feedback would inform the next stage of development. It was noted that getting neighbourhood health arrangements right would be fundamental to improving outcomes for residents. 

RESOLVED that the Board:

1.    Note the requirements set out within the national neighbourhood health framework and related guidance concerning neighbourhood health centres;

2.    Endorse the proposed initial pipeline of local neighbourhood health centres schemes submitted for NHSE consideration;  

3.    Approve the proposed approach for developing and agreeing neighbourhood health geographies (footprints) in the BCP Place;

4.    Approve the proposed approach for development of a Neighbourhood Health Plan for BCP.

Voting: For - Unanimous