Wates Group and NHS England today published a blueprint for delivering the government’s promised 250 neighbourhood health centres (NHCs) at pace across England.
The government pledged the new NHCs by 2035 as part of the NHS 10 Year Health Plan, with the first 120 to open by 2030.
The blueprint recommends a new public-private partnership model that will unlock private investment while avoiding the mistakes of previous PFI models. The new PPPs must be transparent, locally responsive and designed for long-term value rather than short-term capital cost savings.
The report noted criticism aimed at “value engineering” that cuts cost at the expense of quality.
It also calls for a visible, prioritised pipeline of projects with centres grouped geographically to speed up procurement and delivery.
Other recommendations include a commitment to social value and patient outcomes, involving contractors at design stage, and using repeatable design principles to minimise cost.
Skills a ‘critical risk’
The report warned that a lack of skills and poor retention posed a “critical risk” to the NHC plan, with half of the workforce set to retire in the next 10 years.
“Without a credible skills pipeline, retention strategy and clearer understanding of where capability gaps sit, the system could struggle to deliver not just a wave of NHCs but the core service transformation expected over the decades to come,” the report said.
Overall, a “credible national model for delivery” was needed to move care closer to people’s homes, the report said.
Confidence for industry to invest
“The ambition behind neighbourhood health centres is compelling – bringing more services closer to where people live,” said Wates Group chief executive Eoghan O’Lionaird.
“The challenge now is delivery. The NHS has set out a clear vision and the question is how we create the practical conditions that will enable centres to be delivered at the pace and scale required.
“That means providing greater certainty over the pipeline ahead, creating the confidence for industry to invest in skills and capacity, and establishing delivery models that encourage long-term collaboration.”
Once in a generation
Simon Corben, director and head of profession at NHS Estates, said a new generation of NHCs was “one of the most significant opportunities to transform the NHS estate and improve community healthcare in a generation”.
“Delivering this vision will require strong partnerships across the public and private sectors, bringing together investment, expertise and innovation to support better outcomes for patients,” he said.
He added: “By working together, we can help create modern, sustainable healthcare facilities that support prevention, improve access to care and meet the changing needs of local communities.”
The report, Delivering a New Generation of Neighbourhood Healthcare Infrastructure, arose from a roundtable convened by Wates Group and NHS Estates during UKREiiF.
Get the report here.
