Portsmouth has been selected to join the first wave of the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP) which will reshape how care is delivered in our communities.
The NNHIP is a bold, new initiative from NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care. It will help local areas to deliver neighbourhood health systems that will better meet the needs of local people.
This means people will be able to access the care they need closer to home, with a range of NHS and community services being available in their neighbourhood.
It will build upon neighbourhood initiatives already underway in Portsmouth, for instance in Paulsgrove, where the council, NHS services, schools, churches, playgroups, and other local groups are working together to join up their services and ensure that residents are at the heart of shaping the care that they need.
Cllr Matthew Winnington, Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing, Health and Care, at Portsmouth City Council, said: “For Portsmouth to have been selected recognises the strong partnership working already underway to develop neighbourhood approaches which deliver better outcomes for communities. It supports our ambition for joined-up health and care services which meet the needs of local people, especially those that need it most, and will give us an opportunity to work further with our communities to implement new ideas and solutions.”
By bringing more health and care support into the community, the programme aims to prevent unnecessary trips to hospital and avoid the frustration of being passed around the system. It will initially focus on people living with long-term health conditions, such as diabetes, arthritis, angina, high blood pressure or multiple sclerosis.
Dr Linda Collie, Clinical Director for Portsmouth at NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said: “General practice is central to delivering care within our communities and this programme is an opportunity to work more closely with our partners across health and care to deliver a more joined-up, preventative approach at neighbourhood level, with more support available locally.”
James Roach, Director of Primary and Local Care at NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said: “Being selected for this programme demonstrates the fantastic work already taking part in Portsmouth to focus on prevention and bring care closer to people’s homes. This is a key part of the new NHS ten year plan to build a health service fit for the future. The programme will bring further support for local partners who are working together with our communities to go further and shape health services around their needs.”
Portsmouth is one of 43 pilot sites in England selected for the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP).
Organisations and residents across the city will now have the opportunity to come together to help shape what a neighbourhood health programme will look like in Portsmouth.