Dr Minal Bakhai shown progress being made on delivery of neighbourhood health care in Coventry

A leading NHS figure behind the drive to develop community health services visited Coventry to see how health and care services are working together to deliver care closer to home.

The Coventry Neighbourhood Health programme led by UHCW, primary care, Coventry City Council, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust (CWPT) and Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board is one of 43 selected for the first phase of the Government’s National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP).

The programme aims to make it easier for people to access the right support early and close to where they live, helping them stay well and reducing avoidable hospital visits - freeing up appointments and beds for those who need them most.

Dr Minal Bakhai, Senior Responsible Officer for the NNHIP, met with leaders and staff in Coventry and was given an update on progress so far.

“Neighbourhood health is about a radical shift in how we approach health and care,” she said. “It is not just about a new model of care; it is about a fundamental overhaul in ways of working and thinking.

“It was brilliant to see the work in Coventry - one of our pioneer sites - to meet the teams and see the work that is taking place to accelerate the delivery of neighbourhood health here.

“This is true partnership working, every initiative is taking a neighbourhood lens. What does this mean for our residents? What are their needs and how do we coordinate and wrap ourselves around their needs to deliver whole-person outcomes to help communities thrive and flourish?”

Dr Bakhai’s visit started at a brain health event held by the Lions Club of Coventry Godiva in Foleshill.

From there she went on to Tile Hill Primary Care Centre to meet with the first Integrated Neighbourhood Team (INT) in the city, launched last December covering an area that stretches from Spon End to Eastern Green.

In total, there will be six INTs for Coventry – where multi-disciplinary teams from community, mental health, primary care and voluntary sector will work with people who regularly use GP and hospital services – in place by next March.

Her day ended at the Coventry Co-ordination Hub, based at the Enterprise Centre in the Coventry Technology Park, which is able to highlight where patients are in the system and, where possible, support them to remain in the community.

Professor Andy Hardy, Chief Executive Officer at UHCW NHS Trust, said: “It was a pleasure to meet Dr Bakhai and discuss some of the great work that has already taken place to start delivering neighbourhood health in the city, as well as the exciting plans for the future. 

“As a Trust our vision is to be rooted in our communities, delivering services that respond better to patients’ needs, which is at the heart of neighbourhood health.

“I am proud to see UHCW working with our partners across the system to design services around local people, strengthen prevention and making access to support simpler and faster.”