Plans are progressing for a neighbourhood health centre in Portsmouth, forming part of national proposals to expand community-based NHS services across England.
“I will be working with others to ensure that our ICB can get this right, and the community receives the healthcare it needs,” said Stephen Morgan, MP for Portsmouth South.
The development sits within a national programme to deliver up to 250 neighbourhood health centres by 2035, including over 100 by 2030.
An initial wave of 27 sites has already been taken forward, with Integrated Care Boards expected to bring forward further schemes in subsequent phases.
Following the rollout of the first 27 centres, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board is expected to be able to progress proposals for the next phase of delivery later this year as the programme opens to further schemes.
Delivery is expected to follow a phased approach, with early schemes progressing through design and planning during 2025–26, construction beginning from 2026 onwards, depending on site readiness, and first openings anticipated later in the decade.
The Portsmouth scheme would sit within this national framework, subject to local approval, site selection and capital allocation through the NHS estates programme.
According to Morgan, a further 70 new-build neighbourhood health centres are also planned, with locations expected to be announced later this year.
Proposed services at Portsmouth site
The proposed centre would bring together GP services, community nursing, mental health support, urgent care access, diagnostics, and wider wellbeing services including social prescribing and pharmacy provision.
Neighbourhood health centres are intended to act as local “front doors” to the NHS, with multidisciplinary teams delivering more coordinated care from shared sites.
Extended opening hours and improved access to routine and urgent services are also expected to form part of the model.
The programme is being prioritised in areas with higher health needs and estates suitable for rapid development, as part of a wider shift towards integrated community-based care.
In parallel, NHS Property Services has been appointed to deliver 11 schemes in the first wave of the national programme, backed by around £50m of investment.
The projects focus on upgrading and repurposing existing buildings into integrated community health facilities, with completion targeted for 2027 and contributing to the wider ambition of up to 250 centres over the longer term.
More details on the Portsmouth site, configuration and delivery timeline is expected to be confirmed through local NHS commissioning and estates planning processes as the programme progresses.