Trust named in south east London neighbourhood health pilot

Guy’s and St Thomas, working with primary care partners, has been selected as a pilot site for the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme. 

The programme is a flagship initiative from NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care to support the delivery of a neighbourhood health service – a core part of the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan for England. 

The south east London pilot site, covering the boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark, will be 1 of 5 in London, and 1 of 43 across England. It will involve partnership working between Guy’s and St Thomas’, King’s College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts, Lambeth and Southwark Councils, GPs and the voluntary and community sector. 

The partnership, overseen by the NHS South East London Integrated Care Board, will support neighbourhood-based services to deliver care that better meets the needs of local residents, particularly those experiencing the greatest health inequalities and barriers to good health. 

Selection of the pilot sites followed a competitive national application process, with interest from care systems across the country. 

Louise Dark, Chief Executive Officer for Integrated and Specialist Medicine at Guy’s and St Thomas’, said: “We are delighted to have been selected in conjunction with our primary care partners as a pilot site for the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme. 

“This will enable us to continue our collaborative working with colleagues to improve the health of the population we serve in Lambeth and Southwark. 

“We look forward to being part of the national programme, sharing learning and contributing to development of new models of neighbourhood-based care.”