Investment boost to support neighbourhood health centres in Bristol New updates to the online form for GP patient registrations

Two health centres in Bristol are set to be transformed into Neighbourhood Health Centres following £600k funding provided by the Department of Health and Social Care. 

Neighbourhood Health Centres are designed to make it easier for local people to get care closer to home by bringing GP services together with community, council and voluntary sector support in one place. 

The investment in Bristol is targeted at two local GP practices – Charlotte Keel Medical Practice and Montpelier Health Centre. 

£400k has been committed to Charlotte Keel Medical Practice to repurpose the vacant pharmacy space, increasing opportunities for multi-professional working. This will enable GPs, care coordinators, community and wellbeing workers, community teams, mental health professionals and local VCSE organisations to work together to coordinate care and build trusted relationships, making it easier for people to access and navigate health and care services.   

£200k has been committed to Montpelier Health Centre to support the reconfiguration of the building to change how the building is laid out, making better use of space and improve how services could work together. 

Neighbourhood Health Centres will improve how care is accessed, delivered and experienced, helping more people receive personalised support closer to home. By bringing services together in local communities, they will play a key role in making the NHS more sustainable, reducing pressure on individual GP practices and hospitals, and supporting a more effective and resilient healthcare system. 

The development of Neighbourhood Health Centres in Bristol is part of national initiative, announced in the autumn budget, to create 250 Neighbourhood Health Centres across the country. This funding is part of the first wave of developments, where 27 buildings across the country – suitable for rapid development – have been selected to receive funding, with the aim to complete works within one year. 

David Jarrett, Chief Strategic Commissioning Officer at NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB, said: 

“We welcome this investment from the Department of Health and Social Care, which represents an important step in strengthening neighbourhood health services. While this is a nationally led programme, we look forward to working with partners – including NHS Property Services, who will support the delivery of these works – to ensure these improvements support local priorities and help deliver more joined-up, accessible care for our communities.” 

Health Minister Stephen Kinnock said: 

“This government is transforming healthcare, so the NHS works around the lives of patients – not vice versa. 

“We’re rolling out neighbourhood health centres across the country by repurposing and improving local buildings, first targeting the communities that need them most. These one-stop-shops will help end the maze of referrals and repeated conversations, treating not just poor health but the causes of it too. 

“As we rebuild our NHS, our mission is to shift more healthcare into the community, while delivering easier access to care, improved outcomes for patients and better value for money for the taxpayer.” 

Claire Fuller, NHS England’s national medical director, said:  

“Neighbourhood health centres will make it easier for people, particularly working-class communities, to access more joined up care closer to home. 

“By bringing GP services together with a wider range of tailored support, we can help people to get the right care more quickly, close to home, while avoiding unnecessary trips to hospital.” 

More information about the government’s wider investment into Neighbourhood Health Centres is available on gov.uk