St Helens confirmed as national 'pioneer' area for neighbourhood health development
St Helens has been confirmed as national 'pioneer' area for the development of neighbourhood health.
Article date: 9 September 2025
A key priority of the recently-published 10 Year Health Plan, neighbourhood health is central to the Government's ambition to shift care from hospitals to community, analogue to digital and sickness to prevention. The fundamental aim is to deliver better care closer to home.
Backed by £10m of national funding, wave one of the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP) will provide 43 successful applicants, including St Helens and nearby Sefton, with access to national support - with an initial focus on developing neighbourhood health systems which better support adults with multiple long-term conditions.
Welcoming the announcement, Councillor Andy Bowden, St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care & Health, said:
"We are really pleased with the outcome and look forward to showing how we, as system leaders, can help shape the future direction of neighbourhood health as part of the 10 Year Health Plan, and the positive impact this will have on delivering health at a neighbourhood level.
"This is a fantastic opportunity to build on the work we are already doing to improve the health and wellbeing of our communities. By working closely with our residents and local partners, we can deliver joined-up care that really meets the needs of people where they live."
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Chief Executive Cathy Elliott said: "I am delighted that health and care partners in Sefton and St Helens are among the first to receive neighbourhood health 'pioneer' status. This is testament to the strength of the relationships between local health and care providers and our collective commitment to develop models of neighbourhood health which better support the communities we serve.
"We look forward to supporting St Helens and Sefton to lead the way in the development of neighbourhood health and will work with partners across Cheshire and Merseyside to ensure all learning and best practice is shared."
Initially targeted at areas with higher levels of deprivation, the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme will accelerate the move to a 'neighbourhood health service' to deliver more care at home or closer to home, improve people's access, experience and outcomes, and ensure the sustainability of health and social care delivery.
In preparation for this, in July 2025 the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Board approved a neighbourhood health framework which established a clear local vision and provides clarity on the role of health and care systems, providers, local authority footprints (or 'Places') and neighbourhoods.
Among the key stakeholders who have given their backing to Places across the Liverpool City Region in their application for 'pioneer' status is Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram.
"I'm really proud that teams across our region are stepping up to be part of this," he said. "They know their communities, they care deeply about the people they serve - and they've already shown what's possible when we work together.
"This programme is a chance to do more of what works: getting help to people earlier, closer to home and in a way that makes sense to them.
"No one should have their life chances constrained because of the postcode in which they were born. I'm pleased St Helens and Sefton have been successful to lead the charge, ahead of wider rollout next year - to help build a fairer, healthier future for everyone."
ENDS