Neighbourhood Health Service Pilots

Parts of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have been chosen to pilot the new neighbourhood health service.

The new network will initially focus on supporting people with long term conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, angina, high blood pressure, MS and epilepsy.

As the programme grows, it plans to expand to support other patients.

It aims to target areas that have the lowest life expectancy and longest waits for care.

Our committee member, Shabbir Damani is quoted in this BBC article – Neighbourhood health services to launch across East of England – BBC News

Peterborough pharmacist Shabbir Damani said the pilot was “very welcomed”, but he wanted to see community pharmacy “placed in the centre of these plans – especially as well over 1,000 pharmacies have closed since the beginning of 2023 and more closing each day, due to underfunding from the NHS”.

“Community pharmacy has continually expanded its role in services to the community which the patients have benefited from, like almost instant access to a healthcare professional on their doorstep with ability to provide antibiotics, antivirals, etc.

“Most community pharmacies are within a short distance from patients’ homes, and having services provided closer will make access easier and will save the cost of travelling and parking costs seen at most hospitals.”

Read more here.