Government announces first 27 neighbourhood health centres

The Government has announced the first 27 neighbourhood health centres, which it says will open by 2027 as part of the wider plans within the shift to neighbourhood care.

The centres are intended to bring a broader range of services together under one roof, closer to where people live. According to DHSC, services available at these sites are expected to include urgent treatment, GP and pharmacy provision, with some centres also expected over time to offer wider support such as debt advice, employment support, family support and voluntary sector services.

The Government has a longer-term ambition to develop 250 neighbourhood health centres across England by 2036, with the first 120 expected by 2030. The first 27 sites are described as the ‘first phase’ of 50 centres backed by £200 million to upgrade existing buildings.

The first wave of sites has been targeted at areas with higher levels of deprivation across seven regions: East of England, London, Midlands, North East and Yorkshire, North West, South East and South West. Sites were selected based on deliverability in 2026/27, alignment with the neighbourhood health centre model, and local deprivation levels.

In the longer term, the model is intended to support more joined-up, place-based care and reduce pressure on hospitals.

The announcement builds on the government’s broader neighbourhood health agenda and its stated intention to shift care from hospital to community settings. Further guidance on future waves of the programme is expected.

Forward look

We are glad to see the Government making next steps following the publication of the Neighbourhood Health Framework. The announcement marks a positive sign of moving from policy ambition to early implementation. However, significant detail remains to be worked through, particularly in relation to delivery, accountability and the role of social care providers within these models.

For adult social care providers, the key issue will be how far they are meaningfully involved in the design, commissioning and ongoing delivery of neighbourhood services. While the model is framed around integrated, person-centred care, there is currently limited clarity on how independent and voluntary sector providers will be included alongside NHS-led structures.

There are also open questions around:

• how neighbourhood health centres will align with existing local authority commissioning and Integrated Care Board arrangements
• how funding flows will operate across health and social care
• the extent to which workforce capacity in social care will be considered within neighbourhood planning
• how outcomes will be measured across the whole system, rather than primarily through NHS metrics

As further guidance is developed and future waves are brought forward, ensuring that social care is embedded as an equal partner will be critical to the success of the model.

Care England will continue to engage with Government and system partners to seek clarity on these issues and to ensure that the role of social care providers is fully recognised in neighbourhood health delivery.

For further information, please see our briefing on the Neighbourhood Health Framework.