Neighbourhood health: case studies of good practice

Key messages

• pilot sites describe neighbourhood hubs co-locating diagnostics, nursing and mental health services
• early implementation focuses on integrated, multidisciplinary neighbourhood teams
• reported benefits include improved continuity of care and service user satisfaction
• some sites report reductions in A&E attendance following neighbourhood service development
• delivery models vary across integrated care systems and primary care network areas.

Policy implications

• co-location of services may support more joined-up and accessible neighbourhood care
• neighbourhood hubs can act as focal points for multidisciplinary working
• early learning may inform wider roll-out, but consistent evaluation is needed
• neighbourhood health models should be adapted to local context rather than replicated wholesale.

Gaps

• evidence is descriptive, with inconsistent metrics across sites
• follow-up periods are short, generally under 18 months
• limited evidence on long-term outcomes or impact on inequalities
• lack of comparative analysis between different neighbourhood models.

Commentary
These case studies provide early insight into how neighbourhood health and care models are being implemented in practice. By profiling sites that have co-located services and developed multidisciplinary teams, they offer practical examples of neighbourhood models working within the NHS.

Reported improvements in satisfaction, continuity and A&E use suggest potential benefits of neighbourhood approaches. From a care equity perspective, improved continuity and local access may be particularly relevant for people with complex or ongoing needs.

However, the evidence remains early and uneven. Variation in metrics and short follow-up periods limit conclusions about effectiveness or sustainability. It is also unclear how benefits are distributed across different population groups within neighbourhoods.

Overall, the case studies are useful for understanding implementation approaches and early experiences, but they highlight the need for more consistent and longer-term evaluation to assess whether neighbourhood health and care delivers equitable improvements in access, experience and outcomes.