This is a new way of organising and delivering health. It focuses on prevention and early intervention, reduces duplication and improves communication between teams. Most importantly, it supports people to live well in their own communities for longer.
Neighbourhood health is about shifting care from hospitals into the community wherever it is safe and appropriate to do so. Instead of services working separately, professionals work together across organisations to provide coordinated support that wraps around individuals, families and carers.
The focus is on prevention, early support and ongoing care, helping people manage their health conditions and stay independent for as long as possible.
This approach is aligned with national NHS priorities and the Government's 10‑year health plan.
Neighbourhood health is designed to feel easier to navigate and more joined‑up for local people.
People should notice that professionals are better connected, meaning they do not have to repeat their story as often and care feels more coordinated. Support will increasingly be provided closer to home, such as through GP practices, community services, local clinics or in people's own homes, rather than relying on hospital appointments.
There will be a stronger focus on preventing problems before they get worse, with earlier help for long‑term conditions and wellbeing. People with more complex needs should experience more proactive, planned support, helping them avoid unnecessary hospital stays and maintain independence.
Neighbourhood health in Kent and Medway is organised around local neighbourhoods, usually based on groups of GP practices and the communities they serve.
Single neighbourhoods
45 single neighbourhoods will bring together local teams, including GPs, community health services, mental health, social care and voluntary sector partners. These teams work closely as one team sharing responsibility for people's care and focusing on what matters most to them. Single neighbourhoods support a population of 30,000 to 50,000 people.
Multi‑neighbourhood working
For services that make sense to deliver at a bigger scale, several neighbourhoods will work together in multi‑neighbourhood arrangements, serving populations of around 250,000. This allows services to share specialist skills, coordinate resources and ensure consistency, while still keeping care locally focused. In Kent and Medway, we will have nine multi-neighbourhood areas.
This flexible structure allows neighbourhood health to reflect the different communities. There will be a core offer for everyone then local services specifically designed around what local people need.
Neighbourhood health is a long‑term change, not a single new service. It will be developed gradually and in phases, building on existing work, services and partnerships.
Some people, particularly those with more complex needs, may see changes earlier as neighbourhood teams strengthen how they work together. For others, changes may be more subtle at first, such as improved coordination between services.
Over time, neighbourhood health will continue to evolve, shaped by local learning, feedback from residents and ongoing collaboration between health, care and community partners.
For people living in Kent and Medway, neighbourhood health means:
Neighbourhood health represents an important step towards a more community‑focused, joined‑up and sustainable health and care system for Kent and Medway.
Example: Mary, 84
84-year-old Mary is frail and has some conditions affecting her physical and mental health. In a neighbourhood model, her GP practice would have already identified her as someone who may be in need of more complex and proactive care.
The practice will work with other colleagues such as a community nurse, a social worker and local voluntary sector services such as Age UK, to share updates, agree a single plan and focus on helping Mary stay independent and safe at home.
If her health deteriorates or she has an unexpected crisis, such as a fall, the team will act quickly, arranging home-based support including diagnostics, physiotherapy or home adaptations to prevent hospital admission. They can also provide a wide range of hospital-level treatment at home.
The team will also work closely with Mary's family and carers, so they feel more connected, involved and better able to support Mary's needs when they can.
From January to March 2026, as part of our 'What Matters Most' involvement programme, the ICB held four community workshops across Kent and Medway focusing on neighbourhood health.
These workshops are the first of many opportunities to engage and involve people and communities in discussions about the NHS and how it is changing.
The evaluation reports can be found below.
Canterbury workshop evaluation report
Medway workshop evaluation report