Rochdale Chosen as Pioneer for New NHS Scheme to Bring Care Closer to Home
Rochdale, Greater Manchester – Rochdale has been confirmed as one of the first areas in England to benefit from the rollout of new NHS neighbourhood health services, a major initiative designed to bring medical care out of hospitals and directly into the community.
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The landmark scheme aims to tackle stark health inequalities by creating multi-disciplinary teams to provide proactive and joined-up care for residents. These new neighbourhood health teams will be led by local GPs and will include nurses, pharmacists, social care workers, dentists, mental health practitioners, and partners from the voluntary sector. Their primary focus will be on delivering tailored support for people with long-term or complex conditions.
The selection of Rochdale reflects a targeted approach by the NHS to address areas with the most pressing health challenges. The borough has some of the most significant health disparities in the country, with life expectancy lower than the national average and high levels of chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
The new neighbourhood model is intended to address these challenges directly by offering earlier intervention, reducing avoidable hospital admissions, and making the healthcare system easier for patients to navigate.
Paul Waugh, the Labour and Co-operative MP for Rochdale, welcomed the announcement as a crucial step forward for the community.
“This is an important moment for Rochdale”, said Mr. Waugh. “We know that too many local people are living shorter, less healthy lives than they should, and that services often feel fragmented or difficult to navigate”.
He highlighted the practical benefits the new system will bring to local families, stating, “Neighbourhood health services will mean that instead of being passed from one appointment to another, patients will have a single, joined-up plan designed around their needs. For families here in Rochdale, this could make a real difference – whether it’s getting quicker treatment, better support for living with long-term conditions, or help tackling the wider factors that affect health”.
Mr. Waugh added, “I am determined to work with our local NHS and Rochdale Borough Council to make sure this programme delivers the healthier future our community deserves”.
The launch in Rochdale is part of the first wave of the national programme, which is being introduced in 43 areas across England, specifically targeting communities with the highest levels of deprivation. Each neighbourhood service is designed to serve a population of around 50,000 people, with individual care plans set to be coordinated through the NHS App for greater patient convenience and control.
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The landmark scheme aims to tackle stark health inequalities by creating multi-disciplinary teams to provide proactive and joined-up care for residents. These new neighbourhood health teams will be led by local GPs and will include nurses, pharmacists, social care workers, dentists, mental health practitioners, and partners from the voluntary sector. Their primary focus will be on delivering tailored support for people with long-term or complex conditions.
The selection of Rochdale reflects a targeted approach by the NHS to address areas with the most pressing health challenges. The borough has some of the most significant health disparities in the country, with life expectancy lower than the national average and high levels of chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
The new neighbourhood model is intended to address these challenges directly by offering earlier intervention, reducing avoidable hospital admissions, and making the healthcare system easier for patients to navigate.
Paul Waugh, the Labour and Co-operative MP for Rochdale, welcomed the announcement as a crucial step forward for the community.
Great news for Rochdale. This week our borough was chosen as one of the first places in the country to launch new NHS...
Posted by Paul Waugh on Wednesday 10 September 2025
“This is an important moment for Rochdale”, said Mr. Waugh. “We know that too many local people are living shorter, less healthy lives than they should, and that services often feel fragmented or difficult to navigate”.
He highlighted the practical benefits the new system will bring to local families, stating, “Neighbourhood health services will mean that instead of being passed from one appointment to another, patients will have a single, joined-up plan designed around their needs. For families here in Rochdale, this could make a real difference – whether it’s getting quicker treatment, better support for living with long-term conditions, or help tackling the wider factors that affect health”.
Mr. Waugh added, “I am determined to work with our local NHS and Rochdale Borough Council to make sure this programme delivers the healthier future our community deserves”.
The launch in Rochdale is part of the first wave of the national programme, which is being introduced in 43 areas across England, specifically targeting communities with the highest levels of deprivation. Each neighbourhood service is designed to serve a population of around 50,000 people, with individual care plans set to be coordinated through the NHS App for greater patient convenience and control.
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