Community health hubs across the South East are already delivering the government’s vision for healthcare closer to home with the publication of the landmark 10-Year Health Plan. From Southampton to Kent and the Isle of Wight, innovative neighbourhood health centres are demonstrating how integrated local care improves patient experiences while reducing pressure on hospitals – a core ambition of the government’s new plan.

At Southampton’s Shirley Health Centre – housed in a former Lidl supermarket – more than 15,000 patients access a comprehensive range of services under one roof. The centre brings together GPs, mental health professionals, health coaches, social prescribers, midwives from University Hospital Southampton, and mental health practitioners from the Steps2Wellbeing service.

James Roach, Director of Primary Care and Local Care at NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said: “Having all these services in one place is hugely beneficial for the patients that we serve and we are committed to improving how patients access primary care. Our GPs are seeing more patients than ever, and we now have multi-professional teams working in practices to provide specialist care for those who need it.”

In West Kent, Edenbridge Memorial Health Centre provides services to help people take control of their health, including weight management, healthy eating, wound care and a wellbeing day centre. This sits alongside an ‘Ageing Well’ clinic, general practice, outpatient clinics and antenatal and postnatal care.

Clinical Lead Rebecca Thompson said: “Edenbridge shows what’s possible when we bring services together around people rather than expecting people to navigate complex systems. We’re seeing healthier, happier residents who feel more supported in managing their own health.”

Hilary Reynolds, 78 a former psychoanalytic psychotherapist, and her husband Kelvin, have received support at the Edenbridge Ageing Well clinic. Hilary said: “From the word go, it felt so refreshing. They were so detailed, making it a very personal service. I saw four specialists – a complex care nurse, physiotherapist, therapy assistant, and social value
coordinator.

“What a great model of treatment, I thought, straight away ­­to have everyone you need in one place. They took blood tests, health checks, everything we could possibly need.”

These neighbourhood health centres are providing easier, more convenient access to a full range of healthcare services right on people’s doorsteps – stopping them from having to make lengthy trip to hospitals and making a real difference to patient’s lives.

The Newport Health and Wellbeing centre, which opened earlier this year on the Isle of Wight, brings mental health and community care into a space that is welcoming, modern, and fully accessible for everyone. It unites Community Nurses, Physical Therapists, Community Mental Health Teams, and Psychological Therapies in one location. The centre has also partnered with a local charity supporting people with learning disabilities and mental health challenges to open Café 62 – offering fresh, healthy and affordable food to visitors.

Lucy Abel, Clinical Director for the Isle of Wight Division at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said, “The Newport Health and Wellbeing Centre shows how integrated neighbourhood care can improve people’s experience –making it easier to access both physical and mental health support in the community. By bringing services together in one place, we’re reducing the need for hospital visits and helping people get the right care, in the right setting. We’re continuing to shape the space and services with our lived experience groups, ensuring it reflects what matters to those who use it.”

Andrea Lewis, Chief Nurse for the NHS in the South East, said: “The 10-Year Health Plan is a pivotal moment for the South East — setting out a clear, ambitious path to strengthen the health and wellbeing of our communities. We’re building a health service that’s there when people need it most, harnessing digital innovation, and empowering individuals to take charge of their own health.

“Across the region, NHS staff are already doing brilliant work — bringing care closer to home, joining up services, and keeping people well and out of hospital. From our coastal towns to rural villages and busy cities, the South East is uniquely diverse. This plan will help us take the best of the NHS to the rest of the NHS so every person can rely on a service that’s connected, inclusive, and fit for the future.”

While focusing on community health, the region is also enhancing hospital services for patients who need them. The Kent and Medway Orthopedic Centre, which opened last year, features three operating theatres and 24 dedicated surgical beds, offering an additional 2,000 operations annually and significantly reducing waiting times for joint replacements and other orthopedic surgeries.

In Surrey, Redhill Community Diagnostic Centre will open in September in the Belfry shopping centre, providing convenient access for local residents. Once fully operational, it will offer a 12-hour, seven-day-a-week service for tests including CT scans, X-rays, ECGs, ultrasounds, and blood and respiratory checks.

The centre is expected to conduct nearly 40,000 tests in its first year, potentially reducing around 200,000 patient journeys to East Surrey Hospital over five years.