Senior NHS England leaders have visited Sheffield’s Spital Street Health Centre to see how neighbourhood health is being delivered on the ground in one of England’s most diverse and disadvantaged communities.

Dr Claire Fuller, National Priority Programme Director for Neighbourhood Health and Dr James Kent, National Advisor for the Strategy Directorate were joined by a variety of colleagues from South Yorkshire health and care teams, NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care as part of a wider regional tour. The Sheffield visit offered a practical example of how integrated, community-based services are being designed around local need.

Located in the north-east of the city, Spital Street Health Centre is part of the Foundry Primary Care Network (PCN) – the largest in Sheffield – serving a population where 127 languages are spoken. The practice is also preparing for a merger of two surgeries, creating a single service for around 11,000 patients.

The centre has been purpose-built as a neighbourhood hub, bringing multiple services together under one roof to improve access and coordination. Alongside GP services, the building hosts district nursing, mental health support, council services and voluntary sector organisations, with shared spaces used by community groups

This co-location model is central to neighbourhood health, enabling closer working between professionals while making it easier for patients to access support in one place. It reflects a wider shift towards delivering more care in community settings and reducing reliance on hospital-based services.

The building itself has been designed to support both sustainability and wellbeing. It includes solar panels, heat pumps and improved ventilation, alongside clinical rooms built to hospital standards and dedicated space for virtual consultations. These features help create a modern environment that supports both staff and patients.

Developed in partnership with the local authority and supported by community funding, the facility is also seen as a long-term asset for the area. Situated in one of the most deprived communities in the country, it is contributing not only to improved health services but also to wider regeneration.

During the visit, leaders heard how teams are using the space to tackle local health inequalities. With vaccination uptake lower than average, targeted drop-in clinics are being introduced to reach more people. At the same time, community-led work is helping reduce stigma around cervical screening, particularly in a highly diverse population.

These initiatives highlight the strong emphasis on prevention and early intervention. Foundry PCN Manager Rebecca Reeve and Practice Manager for Spital Street Health Centre Lisa Platt described ambitions to move further towards proactive care, identifying and supporting patients at higher risk before their health deteriorates, particularly ahead of winter pressures:

“The potential within this building is just extraordinary, to really improve the lives and the wellbeing of our patient population and the wider patient population in our network.

“But this building doesn’t just represent healthcare, it represents the wider determinants of health. We work in partnership with lots of organisations and we’re there to support and to enable our patients to live fulfilling and healthy lives.”

Frontline experience also showed how operational changes are improving access. A call-back triage system is helping patients receive timely appointments, with staff reporting high levels of satisfaction among those contacted.

Looking ahead, the practice is exploring how to develop its neighbourhood model further. While some areas have adopted “health on the high street” approaches, local leaders are considering a hub-and-spoke model to better reflect Sheffield’s geography and population needs.

For national leaders, the visit demonstrated how neighbourhood health can be translated into real-world improvements. By combining modern infrastructure, integrated services and a strong understanding of the local community, Spital Street Health Centre is helping to deliver more joined-up, accessible and preventative care.

The Sheffield visit reinforced a broader message from across the region: neighbourhood health is not a one-size-fits-all approach, but one built on partnership, flexibility and a focus on communities. At Spital Street, that approach is already making a real difference to how people experience care.