Planned specialist care in neighbourhood health
Neighbourhood health is a central pillar of the government’s plans to transform the NHS, as set out in the 10 Year Health Plan for England. This includes a commitment to shift most outpatient care out of hospitals by 2035 and introduce neighbourhood health centres in every community. However, this article from the Royal College of Physicians, highlights that there is currently insufficient clarity about how planned specialist care – and physicians in particular – will operate within neighbourhood models. This report focuses on the role of medical specialists within neighbourhood planned care and the practical enablers required to deliver integrated, high-quality planned care closer to home.