We’re excited to share that Herefordshire has been selected as one of just 43 areas in England to take part in a new national programme aimed at improving health and care in local communities.

This means our county will be part of the first group to pilot the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP) – an NHS initiative that focuses on helping people stay well at home and get care closer to where they live.

We’re proud to be leading this work through the One Herefordshire Partnership, which brings together local NHS services, GPs, councils, and voluntary organisations to support people across the county.

What is the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme?

The NNHIP is all about making health and care services more joined-up, proactive, and community-focused. Instead of relying on hospitals, the programme supports care in neighbourhoods – helping people get the right support earlier and stay independent for longer.

It’s especially designed to help those who need the most support, such as older adults, people with long-term health conditions, or those facing social challenges.

What does this mean for people in Herefordshire?

Being part of this programme means:

• Better access to care in your local area
• More personalised support for those with complex needs
• Less pressure on hospitals, with more care provided at home or nearby
• Improved health outcomes and a better experience for patients
• We’ll also benefit from national support, expert advice, and new tools to help us design services that work for our communities.

What happens next?

Over the next year, the One Herefordshire Partnership will focus on supporting people with the most complex needs – around 2–4% of the population – who often need more help from health and care services.

We’ll be working together across organisations to:

• Prevent illness before it starts
• Use digital tools to make care more accessible
• Support people to live well at home
   

This is a big step forward for Herefordshire, and we’ll keep you updated as the programme develops.