Written question asked by Blake Stephenson (Conservative) on Friday, 10 October 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 14 October 2025. It was answered by Stephen Kinnock (Labour) on Monday, 27 October 2025 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Community Health Services

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 36 of the policy paper entitled 10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future, published on 3 July 2025, what his definition is of community, in this context.

Answer

The Government is committed to delivering a Neighbourhood Health Service that brings care closer to communities, ensuring that care happens as locally as it can, digitally by default, in a person’s home if possible, in a neighbourhood health centre when needed, and only in hospital if necessary.

The 10-Year Health Plan set out our aim to establish a neighbourhood health centre in every community that will be a ‘one stop shop’ for patient care and the place from which multi-disciplinary teams operate.

In this context, ‘community’ refers to the local place where people live and receive care and support, encompassing the networks of health, care, and voluntary services that exist around individuals, families, and neighbourhoods.

Care in the community will be supported through multidisciplinary neighbourhood teams and neighbourhood health centres.

Neighbourhood health centres will provide easier, more convenient access to a full range of health and care services on people’s doorsteps, joining up the National Health Service and local authority and voluntary services.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 79823
Session: 2024-26
Related items: Deposited Paper DEP2025-0460
Monday, 7 July 2025
Deposited papers
House of Lords
Subjects: Community health services
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Community Health Services

Secondary information

Librarians' tools