Herefordshire has been named as one of just 43 areas in England selected to take part in the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP).
This is a major initiative aimed at transforming how health and care services are delivered.
The programme, announced last week (Tuesday 9 September), is part of the Government’s Ten-Year Health Plan and focuses on shifting care closer to home, preventing illness, and supporting people with complex needs through joined-up services.
It encourages local innovation and collaboration, helping areas test new approaches and scale up what works.
Herefordshire’s inclusion in the first wave of NNHIP sites recognises the strong foundations already in place through the One Herefordshire Partnership, which brings together NHS providers, GPs, local government, and the voluntary sector to deliver integrated care.
Jane Ives, Managing Director of Wye Valley NHS Trust and Chairman of the One Herefordshire Partnership, said:
We’re delighted to have been chosen as one of the pilot areas for this important national programme.
It’s a real endorsement of the hard work our partnership has put in over the years to bring together public sector and voluntary organisations to work in collaboration.
Together, we’ve built a strong platform for delivering high-quality health and care services that meet the needs of local people by breaking down the traditional organisational boundaries which have, so often in the past, become barriers to collaborative working.
Zoe Clifford, Director of Public Health at Herefordshire Council, added:
This is a significant opportunity for Herefordshire and means we will receive national support, including access to expert coaching, learning networks, and practical tools to help us redesign services around the needs of our communities. We will particularly be focusing on those who need the most support - such as older adults, people with long-term conditions, and those at risk of poor health outcomes - helping them stay independent and well for longer and reducing health inequalities.
For residents, this means more personalised and accessible care, with services designed around neighbourhoods - making it easier to get support locally, stay well at home, and avoid unnecessary hospital visits.