Buckinghamshire has been selected for a national health initiative.

The National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP) aims to transform the NHS over the next decade by delivering high-quality, integrated care closer to home.

Buckinghamshire is one of only 43 successful applicants chosen from 141 submissions nationwide.

The programme will develop integrated neighbourhood health services in High Wycombe, North Buckinghamshire, Beaconsfield, and Marlow.

Neighbourhood teams will include professionals from Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, Primary care led by Bucks GP Provider Alliance, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Buckinghamshire Council, and voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations, as well as pharmacy, optometry, and dentistry services.

It will build on existing work and experience, supporting sites through collaborative learning, coaching, implementation and support to roll out this new vision for health care in local communities.

Raghuv Bhasin, chief operating officer at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “Neighbourhood Care is central to our vision of helping people in Buckinghamshire live healthier and more independent lives.

"It is about working with partners to move services to fit around the needs of people and communities, being more proactive in providing support and using all the skills of our excellent teams and the voluntary sector.

"We are already making changes – for example offering proactive frailty appointments as a MOT for our older residents – and this neighbourhood programme will support us to go further faster to improve things for the people of Buckinghamshire.”

Nick Broughton, chief executive of the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB), said: "We’re really pleased to be part of the first group taking forward the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme.

"This successful bid helps us move closer to our goal of improving health and care right in the heart of our communities.

"By using digital tools like the NHS App and focusing more on prevention, we want to help people stay well for longer.

"It’s an exciting approach to local care, and we’re committed to making it work across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire West."

Dr George Gavriel of the Bucks GP Provider Alliance said the programme builds on strong existing partnerships.

Dr Gavriel said: "General practice continues to play an important role in neighbourhood working, bringing together health, care, and community teams to shape more joined-up services.

"This is a good opportunity to deepen those local connections and help develop care that’s better suited to the needs of our population."