Neighbourhood health framework published
Source: DHSC & NHS England, 17 March 2026
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England have published of the Neighbourhood Health Framework, setting out a transformative plan to reorganise health and care services around England’s local communities. This major policy milestone supports the government’s long‑term ambition to shift care closer to home, strengthen prevention, and expand the use of digital tools to improve population health.
Published on 17 March 2026, the Framework provides a clear blueprint for establishing a Neighbourhood Health Service – ensuring that people across England can access more integrated, personalised, and preventative care where they live.
A New Vision for Local, Integrated Health and Care
The Neighbourhood Health Framework is rooted in three core system‑wide shifts:
- Hospital to community: expanding local access to urgent care, community services, virtual wards, and home‑based treatment.
- Treatment to prevention: supporting earlier intervention and keeping people well for longer.
- Analogue to digital: using data and technology to identify at‑risk populations, coordinate care, and improve outcomes.
The Framework builds on strong existing neighbourhood working across England and provides a minimum set of interventions that all Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) must deliver over the next three years. These foundational steps will help ensure greater consistency in how neighbourhood health services are developed and scaled.
A Joint Endeavour Across Systems
Minister of State for Care Stephen Kinnock emphasised that neighbourhood health will only succeed through deep collaboration between the NHS, local authorities, and wider partners. He highlighted that the Framework aims to “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.”
The Framework outlines:
- Governance structures (or archetypes) to help local systems collaborate effectively
- A shared description of neighbourhood health, with common outcomes and metrics
- Early financial incentives to accelerate change
- A new approach to strategic joint working across NHS and local government leaders
Progress made in 2026/27 will feed into the development of full Neighbourhood Health Plans for 2027/28, led jointly through Health and Wellbeing Boards and ICBs.
Neighbourhood Health Centres at the Heart of Communities
Central to the government’s ambition is the creation of Neighbourhood Health Centres, which will serve as “the place to go for most health needs in every community.” These centres will host multidisciplinary teams supporting people with long‑term conditions, providing easier access to a wider range of community‑based services.
As part of broader NHS reforms, the Government has committed to building and upgrading 250 Neighbourhood Health Centres nationwide.
Supporting Local Leadership
The National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme will provide support to local areas by:
- Building capability and skills
- Developing infrastructure
- Providing success criteria for scaling new models
Local leaders will have the flexibility to tailor neighbourhood health services to their communities’ needs, ensuring that the Framework acts as a foundation, not a ceiling.
Looking Ahead
The publication of the Neighbourhood Health Framework marks a pivotal moment in the government’s commitment to delivering a health service that prioritises prevention, embraces digital innovation, and empowers people to live healthier, more independent lives. Over the coming months, DHSC and NHS England will work with local systems to support early implementation and prepare for the development of neighbourhood health plans in 2027/28.