NHS England has issued an open invitation calling for participation in the first wave of the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP). Explaining the shift in culture, resource allocation and ways of working as “mission critical”, NHSE sets out the programme as a means of building on successes to date, accelerating current work, sharing solutions and encouraging working at scale.
The NNHIP’s initial focus will be on developing neighbourhood health systems and processes for those with multiple long-term conditions and rising risk, with NHSE to work with places to establish new ways of working and associated enablers. “This will build on and not replace work that has already been progressing in many places,” it states, “and therefore, whilst firm on intent and measuring progress, there will be full flexibility to deliver in ways that are shaped locally and make sense to you.”
Overseen by a joint DHSC and NHSE taskforce, the programme is encouraging “collaborative and collective” applications from places spanning different provider organisations within a particular geography. These applications are to be submitted via email by 8 August, and will need to be co-sponsored by the ICB and local authority chief executive officers. A webinar is also scheduled for the 15 July for interested parties to find out more about the programme’s vision, planned approach, and how to get involved.
Earlier this year, NHSE published guidance around progressing and delivering neighbourhood health, asking ICBs to plan a neighbourhood health and care model, with an initial focus on people with the most complex health and care needs. It notes the need to develop a consistent, system-wide population health management approach and to “utilise quantitative data and qualitative insights to understand needs and risks for different population cohorts”. It adds how this information should inform the design and delivery of care, and that systems should aim for “improving coordination, personalisation and continuity of care”.
Digital in supporting new operating models
The UK government has published its Fit for the Future: The 10 Year Health Plan for England, aiming to “build a truly modern NHS”, with focus on moving from hospital to community, analogue to digital and sickness to prevention. The plan sets out a new operating model, a new era of transparency, a new workforce model with staff aligned to the direction, a reshaped innovation strategy, and a different approach to NHS finances.
London’s five ICBs, along with NHS England London Region and the wider London Health and Care Partnership, have joined together to issue a ‘target operating model’ for neighbourhood health in the London region, based on engagement across the capital which highlighted a desire for more accessible and consistent care and using new technologies “where appropriate”.
For a recent HTN Now webinar, we were joined by a panel of experts to discuss the role of digital in supporting NHS reform – modernising services, shifting from hospital to community, and supporting the move from reactive to proactive care. Panel members shared their insight and experience from a wide range of digital projects, highlighting what worked well and their learnings; how their organisations are currently tackling key challenges such as capacity and demand, and managing waiting lists; and balancing risk with innovation.
