Neighbourhood Health Services

Baroness Pitkeathley Excerpts
Monday 7th September 2026

(1 month, 2 weeks ago)

Lords Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Watch Debate Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Baroness Pitkeathley Portrait Baroness Pitkeathley (Lab)
- View Speech - Hansard - -

My Lords, one of the most important contributions of a neighbourhood health service is in the preventive work that it does—things like exercise, smoking cessation, addiction counselling, and so on. Does my noble friend agree that it is important to measure those aspects, which reduce further the demand for hospital and primary care services?

Baroness Merron Portrait Baroness Merron (Lab)
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

I certainly do agree with my noble friend, who sets out what is at the core of this key shift, which is one of three. There are many examples. The service in Kensington, Chelsea and North Paddington has already supported people to access the right care in the right way. It has seen a reduction of over a third in GP appointments, of over two-thirds in A&E attendances and of over half in sick notes issued, with residents reporting a 40% increase in well-being. That is what can happen when we join up around the person.