Rochdale has today been confirmed as one of the first areas in England to benefit from the rollout of new NHS neighbourhood health services – a move designed to bring more care out of hospitals and closer to people’s homes.
The scheme will see neighbourhood health teams – led by local GPs and including nurses, pharmacists, social care workers, dentists, mental health practitioners and the voluntary sector – provide tailored support for people with long-term or complex conditions.
Rochdale has some of the starkest health inequalities in the country, with life expectancy lower than the national average and high levels of long-term conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. The new neighbourhood approach is intended to address those challenges directly, offering earlier intervention, reducing avoidable hospital admissions and making care more joined-up.
Paul Waugh, Labour and Co-operative MP for Rochdale, said:
“This is an important moment for Rochdale. We know that too many local people are living shorter, less healthy lives than they should, and that services often feel fragmented or difficult to navigate.
Neighbourhood health services will mean that instead of being passed from one appointment to another, patients will have a single, joined-up plan designed around their needs. For families here in Rochdale, this could make a real difference – whether it’s getting quicker treatment, better support for living with long-term conditions, or help tackling the wider factors that affect health.
I am determined to work with our local NHS and Rochdale Borough Council to make sure this programme delivers the healthier future our community deserves.”
The first wave of neighbourhood health services is being launched in 43 areas across England, targeted at communities with the highest levels of deprivation. Each neighbourhood will serve around 50,000 people, with care plans coordinated through the NHS App.