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NHS Neighbourhood Health Guidelines 2025/26 | The Summary for Primary Care Network Leaders
Updated: 15 hours ago
At THC Primary Care, we provide resources for primary care Network leaders. This blog focuses on NHS England's new Neighbourhood Health Guidelines 2025/26, which was released on 29 January 2025.
The blog summarises the Neighbourhood Health Guidelines 2025/26 in a one-page summary and then discusses what this may mean for primary care networks.
Let's jump in!
Part - The 1 Page Summary
The Vision
The new guidelines outline a vision to transform the health and care system into a neighbourhood health service that will deliver more care at home or closer to home, improve people's access, experience and outcomes, and ensure the sustainability of health and social care delivery.
This approach responds to the increasing challenge of people living with multiple and more complex problems.
The vision emphasises three key shifts:
1️⃣ From hospital to community (providing better care close to or in people's homes),
2️⃣ From treatment to prevention (promoting health literacy and early intervention),
3️⃣ From analogue to digital (greater use of digital infrastructure and solutions to improve care).
The Six Core Components
The guidelines presents six core components that form the foundation of neighbourhood health services:
1. Population Health Management: A data-driven approach using linked datasets
2. Modern General Practice: Focusing on improved access and continuity
3. Local Standardised Community Health Services
4. Neighborhood Multidisciplinary Teams
5. Integrated Intermediate Care
6. Urgent neighborhood services
However, this is not a new approach.
The building blocks for integrated care proceeded the formation of Integrated Care Systems, but in 2022, Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) evolved into Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) because the NHS wanted to move towards a more integrated approach to healthcare delivery.
A breakdown of the Integrated Care Systems and their different functions can be found here; https://www.thcprimarycare.co.uk/post/an-introduction-to-integrated-care-systems
And the neighbourhood health six core components build on the24/25 PCN DES four key functions.
Neighbourhood Health | Evolution Not Revolution
There is a absence of PCN-specific language in the guidelines, which raises important strategic questions for primary care leaders. The guidelines' emphasis on "neighbourhood multidisciplinary teams" was previously signalled in the Fuller Stocktake in 2022, and The Darzi report only mentions primary care networks (PCNs) twice.
When discussing integrated care, noting that "Where new multidisciplinary teams have formed, for example, around primary care networks, they report significant positive impact".
PCNs are relevant to delivering more integrated care and implementing the strategic shift toward care closer to home, as part of what it calls "a neighbourhood NHS".
However, the neighbourhood health guidelines do not specifically signal the departure of primary care networks. It appears the evolution of integrated neighbourhood teams is gathering pace, and the emphasis on "modern general practice" suggests that PCNs' foundational work is being built on rather than replaced or dismantled.
So..... what does this mean for primary care networks?
The primary challenge lies in the uncertainty. While the new GP contract is soon to be released, maintaining the momentum of PCN development and planning for the future is difficult.
However, it is undeniable that there is an opportunity to leverage PCN experience to inform neighbourhood health implementation.
Join us to discuss all this and more.............
The third annual PCN Plus LIVE conference will be held on Wednesday, 23 April 2025, at the Crowne Plaza in Nottingham.
The aim is to provide insights for those working in (or with) PCNs about what the future holds for networks, plus practical steps on how best to prepare.
About Us
THC Primary Care is an award-winning healthcare consultancy specialising in Primary Care Network Management and the creator of the Business of Healthcare Podcast. With over 20 years in the industry, we've supported more than 200 PCNs through interim management, training, and consultancy.
Our expertise spans project management and business development across both private and public sectors. Our work has been published in the London Journal of Primary Care, and we've authored over 250 blogs sharing insights about primary care networks.
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