Delivering the Neighbourhood Health Service: Estates

The Committee is holding an inquiry into what is needed from the NHS estate to deliver the Government’s vision of a ‘Neighbourhood Health Service’ — shifting care from hospitals to integrated, preventative services in local communities. Currently, 11% of the NHS estate is older than the NHS itself and many providers report that ageing premises are unsuitable to deliver community health services. The Committee’s inquiry will examine the physical infrastructure requirements to realise this shift, which includes the establishment of ‘Neighbourhood Health Centres’ in every community. It will explore whether current estate plans, funding and leasing systems, and delivery models are suitable, as well as the risks and opportunities of Public-Private Partnerships. This includes lessons from past models such as PFI. The inquiry will assess how existing NHS buildings can be repurposed, the role of new builds, and the use of non-NHS spaces to deliver the community-based care. It will consider the needs of all communities, including those in rural or underserved areas. The Committee invites written evidence from Friday 12 December until 11.59pm on Friday 13 February.