Dorset joins national neighbourhood health scheme to bring care closer to home
Great news for Dorset residents! The county has been chosen to join the Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme
Dorset has been selected to take part in national health programme designed to bring care into communities and reduce unnecessary hospital visits.
The county will join the Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP), which aims to expand access to services such as diagnostics, rehabilitation, mental health support, nursing and social care closer to people’s homes.
The scheme is intended to improve wellbeing, cut health inequalities and free up hospital beds for those most in need.
Patricia Miller, chief executive of NHS Dorset Integrated Care Board (ICB), hailed the announcement: “Our neighbourhood teams are already changing the way we work, putting people at the heart and making sure support goes where it’s needed most, particularly for those who face barriers in accessing traditional services.”
Dorset Council’s leader, Nick Ireland, said: “This programme will help us go further, especially in supporting our most vulnerable residents and reducing health inequalities.”
Ken Heap, chair of the Dorset Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly, added: “By really listening to what matters to local people most and bridging the gap to bring services together, it means we’re not just improving health, we’re building stronger, more connected communities.”
Neighbourhood teams will involve GPs, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, opticians, paramedics, social prescribers, councils and voluntary groups.
Dr Forbes Watson, chair of the Dorset GP Alliance, said closer collaboration was already having a positive impact. “The move towards neighbourhood working is enabling us to work more closely with community services, mental health teams, and the voluntary sector.
“It means we can spend less time navigating the system and more time supporting patients to live well.”
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are expected to follow Dorset into the programme at a later stage.