The UK government introduced the Neighbourhood Health Framework on 17th March 2026, setting out how health and care services will be organised and delivered at the neighbourhood level. The framework aims to make care more joined‑up, preventative and focused on local communities.
Issued by the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England, the framework provides a blueprint for integrated care boards (ICBs), local authorities, and health and wellbeing boards to plan, measure, and deliver neighbourhood‑based health services across England.
Core Aims of the Framework
The framework seeks to reshape local health and care through several key goals:
- Defining neighbourhood health — establishing a shared understanding of what local services should achieve.
- Setting success measures and metrics — guiding performance and outcomes.
- Outlining roles of key partners — including ICBs, local councils, and health boards.
- Mapping local processes — enabling systems to set and agree on neighbourhood‑specific goals.
What the Framework Means in Practice
According to the framework:
- Local leadership is central — neighbourhood health plans should be developed by local boards working with communities, providers, and partners to meet population needs.
- Combination of national and local targets — success will blend national minimum goals with flexible local objectives.
- Integrated working — collaboration across health, social care, and wider local services will replace siloed approaches.
While the framework does not allocate new funding directly, it supports the government’s long-term strategy to move care closer to communities and reduce hospital reliance.
Policy Context and Next Steps
The framework builds on previous guidance and is intended to guide implementation over the coming years. Local systems are expected to begin planning under the framework in 2026/27, with neighbourhood health plans to follow for the subsequent financial year.
National programmes will provide support for local delivery, helping to align metrics, strengthen partnerships, and build capacity across health, care, and community sectors.
This publication marks a significant step in formalising the government’s vision for more preventative, community-centred care, making neighbourhood health a central focus of ongoing NHS reform efforts.
Source: GOV.UK
Neighbourhood Health Conference: Implementing the 10 Year Plan from vision to reality
Date: Thursday 11th June 2026 Location: Virtual, Online
This conference aims to share good practice of organisations who have started on the journey to Neighbourhood Health and will reflect on key questions such as how the finance flows will follow neighbourhood health, what is the role for secondary care in neighbourhood health, the initial focus for the first Places and how multidisciplinary teams will go beyond the current general practice model.
Book now: www.healthcareconferencesuk.co.uk/virtual-online-courses/neighbourhood-health
