Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that patient-facing staff across neighbourhood health services have access to appropriate clinical navigation training and resources required to direct patients to appropriate self-care, community pharmacy or clinical services.

Community pharmacies will have a vital role in the Neighbourhood Health Service and in supporting self-care, as the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan brings healthcare to high streets as part of a shift in care to the community.

In March 2026, the Neighbourhood Health Framework was published to empower local leaders to develop and scale neighbourhood health. The framework is designed to support joined-up partnership between integrated care boards and local authorities, as they work together through health and wellbeing boards, and with their partners, to develop locally led neighbourhood health plans.

Local areas will have flexibility to design their plans to meet the needs of their local communities, including integrating community pharmacy and self-care into neighbourhood health services.

Work is ongoing to ensure that local neighbourhood teams continue to have access to standard, quality training for personal care roles.