Our response to King's Fund Study and the future delivery of health and social care

The newly published Neighbourhood Health Framework sets out a national direction for more relational, joined‑up support, delivered closer to where people live.

Much of this mirrors what the King’s Fund has been highlighting for some time: that the future of health and care relies on strong local relationships, coordinated teams, and meaningful involvement of people and communities.

King's Fund Study: The future of patient voice: learning from the Healthwatch model

Across the Healthwatch North East and North Cumbria network, we’ve already seen how powerful this neighbourhood approach can be. Working together across 14 local Healthwatch, we hear directly from people in every community, what works well, what doesn’t, and what people need to feel supported.

Recently, we’ve gathered in‑depth personal accounts from people about their experiences of mental health care across the region. While this work isn’t yet public, the stories people shared were honest, generous and deeply insightful. They highlighted the importance of continuity, clear communication, compassion, and support that is rooted in local communities, exactly the principles behind the Neighbourhood Health model.

As systems begin to transition toward neighbourhood‑based care, there is a real opportunity to design models that truly reflect the realities of people’s lives. Healthwatch, with our independence and deep community reach, is ready to support that transition,  ensuring that real experiences continue to shape both the design and delivery of future services.

This moment isn’t about replacing the role of public voice, it’s about strengthening it, embedding it, and making sure it remains at the heart of neighbourhood health.