This week Talking General Practice is looking at the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme - or NNHIP. This is the NHS England and government programme to support the development of neighbourhood health with 43 pioneer sites across England leading the way to test how integrated neighbourhood teams and neighbourhood approaches can better support patients.

To find out what this looks like on the frontline, Emma speaks to leaders from two of those pioneer sites. 

Dr Zalan Alam, a GP in Rochdale, discusses his work in intermediate care and the importance of building trust across care boundaries to tackle frailty and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions.

Meanwhile, Rachel Stead, strategic PCN manager for South Sefton PCN, shares the success of their innovative adverse childhood experiences programme and highlights the need for infrastructure and funding to ensure neighbourhood working is sustainable for general practice.

Zalan and Rachel discuss the reality of integrated working, what the future could hold, and why general practice must remain the cornerstone of any successful neighbourhood model.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen

Useful links

• As part of the MIMS Healthcare Network, GPonline has produced a new report for our subscribers on neighbourhood health - view the report here.
• National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme website
• Sefton’s adverse childhood experiences programme
• Could new PCN rules make neighbourhood contracts redundant?

MIMS Learning Live

MIMS Learning Live South is returning to London on Friday 12 June 2026, and tickets are free to book.

This is your chance to boost your clinical know-how, connect with peers from across the UK, and gain fresh insights that can make a real difference in your patients’ lives. This year’s clinical programme covers issues including obesity management, paediatrics, women's health and cardiology.

We’re also running a GP Business hub stream aimed at GP partners, practice managers and PCN managers, which will cover practice finance, neighbourhood working, using AI in practice and how to meet the challenges of rising patient demand.

Get your tickets here www.mimslearninglive.com/south

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