North East and North Cumbria welcomed Dr Claire Fuller, NHS England’s national priority programme director for neighbourhood health, as part of her neighbourhood health stocktake.

The July 2026 visit brought together colleagues from across the NHS, local government, primary care and the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector to showcase progress, share learning and discuss how neighbourhood health can continue to improve outcomes for local people in the North East and North Cumbria through more joined-up care closer to home.

A key theme throughout the day was that the North East and Yorkshire region is building on strong foundations rather than starting from scratch. Partners shared examples of long-standing collaboration, innovative neighbourhood health initiatives alongside honest discussions about challenges to overcome.

Summing up the visit, Dr Claire Fuller said: “I’ve heard so many new things which is a testament to everyone working in the North East and North Cumbria. It’s been very thought provoking.

“Please don’t underestimate the incredible things you are doing, many of which are not happening in other areas – particularly the maturity of your relationships and joint working.” 

Examples shared during the visit included:

• Integrated neighbourhood teams bringing together health, care, local authorities and the voluntary sector to deliver more coordinated care.
• Innovative women’s health services including community women’s health hubs in Newcastle.
• Northumberland’s multidisciplinary team pilots supporting older people, people with long-term respiratory conditions and children with complex needs through the Connecting Care for Children (CC4C) model.
• The region’s OPTIMISE COPD approach, which used population health data and targeted GP reviews to reduce respiratory-related urgent and emergency care contacts by 65%.
• Population health intelligence, proactive frailty support, improved hospital discharge and the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme pilots in Stockton-on-Tees and Sunderland, helping deliver more personalised, preventative care while shaping neighbourhood health nationally.

Levi Buckley, deputy chief operating officer at NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, said: “Dr Claire Fuller’s visit gave us a fantastic opportunity to showcase the progress being made across North East and North Cumbria, while also having honest conversations about the challenges we need to overcome together.

“One of the real strengths of our region is the richness and diversity of our communities. There is no single model for neighbourhood health, nor should there be. The solutions being developed in our urban communities will look different to those in our rural and coastal areas, but what unites them is the strength of the partnerships behind them.

“The visit reinforced that the progress we’re making is only possible because of the commitment of colleagues across our NHS trust, primary care, local government, the voluntary sector, communities and the ICB working towards a shared ambition. It was also a reminder to celebrate how much has already been achieved, while continuing to learn from one another, and build on that success to be ambitious for improving the health of our population.”

The visit follows a recent Neighbourhood Health Learning Conference, coordinated by Boost, a learning and improvement community in the area. The conference explored the key enablers of successful neighbourhood working, including leadership, population health intelligence, community power and citizenship, helping shape the next phase of neighbourhood health across the region. You can read more and watch a film from the event here Neighbourhood Health Learning Conference: from insight to action.

North East and North Cumbria is also playing a leading role nationally, with Stockton-on-Tees and Sunderland selected as two of the 43 places in the first wave of the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme, helping to shape the future of neighbourhood health across England. Read more here: Stockton and Sunderland to lead the way in local health revolution.

Photo: From front left; Dr Fiona Adamson (GP and chief executive Hartlepool and Stockton Health), Karen Hawkins (director of commissioning neighbourhood south North East and North Cumbria ICB),Carolyn Nice (director of adult social services, Stockton on Tees Borough Council), Rachel Mitcheson (director of commissioning neighbourhood north, North East and North Cumbria ICB), Dr Claire Fuller (NHS England’s national priority programme director for neighbourhood health), Levi Buckley (deputy chief operating officer, North East and North Cumbria ICB), Dr Faisel Baig (regional medical director for primary care, NHSE North East and Yorkshire), Martin Short (director of commissioning, North East and North Cumbria ICB).