Doncaster has been formally selected as a Wave One site for the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP), a flagship initiative led by NHS England to reimagine how health and care are delivered at the local level. This marks a significant moment for our system – and for general practice in particular. Out of 141 applications submitted across England, Doncaster’s proposal stood out for its bold, community-rooted vision and its commitment to equity, digital inclusion, and real-time learning.
The NNHIP is designed to support local systems in building relational, place-based models of care. It moves beyond transactional service delivery and instead invests in community-centred, multi-disciplinary teams that work collaboratively to improve population health. As a Wave One site, Doncaster will receive tailored support to embed local coaching, build team capability, access national experts, and participate in peer learning. The programme also offers a chance to shape national enablers such as funding flows, digital infrastructure, and evaluation frameworks.
Doncaster’s application, coordinated by the Integrated Care Partnership – including Doncaster LMC – and supported by VCSE partners, highlighted several strengths that resonated with national priorities. The Thrive model, which places relationships and local assets at the heart of care, was a key feature. So too was the commitment to digital inclusion, ensuring that technology enhances rather than excludes access. The use of Eclipse for risk stratification demonstrated a data-driven approach to identifying and supporting vulnerable patients, while the Health Van outreach programme showcased targeted engagement with CORE20PLUS populations, including those experiencing homelessness or digital poverty. Underpinning all of this was a readiness to experiment, iterate, and share insights through a learning system that values real-time feedback.
Throughout the development of the application and the shaping of Doncaster’s neighbourhood health strategy, Doncaster LMC has played a proactive and collaborative role. Working closely with partners, we’ve helped ensure that the voice of primary care was not only heard but embedded in the design of the programme. With the explicit consent of our colleagues in community pharmacy, dentistry, and optometry, the LMC has represented the broader primary care sector – advocating for inclusive governance, practical enablers, and safeguards that reflect the realities of frontline care. Our involvement continues as the programme moves into implementation, and we remain committed to supporting practices, providers, and clinicians across the borough.
For general practice, this programme offers both practical support and strategic opportunity. Practices can expect enhanced investment in multi-disciplinary team development, with coaching, training, and shared learning becoming more accessible. There will be opportunities to contribute to the design of national policy, particularly around commissioning, digital tools, and funding flows. Improved data infrastructure will support better population health management, and practices working with underserved groups may receive additional visibility and support. Perhaps most importantly, Doncaster’s inclusion in Wave One places our local system on the national map, offering a platform to showcase the innovation and resilience of our practices and to attract future investment.
Looking ahead, Doncaster LMC has begun exploring what deeper integration might look like. A recent proposal, outlines the potential formation of a Doncaster Integrated Health and Care Partnership (DIHCP). This concept imagines a jointly governed organisation built around equal partnership between general practice, local trusts, the council, and the VCSE sector. The proposal suggests shared accountability, delivered through Integrated Neighbourhood Teams aligned to PCNs and Doncaster’s 88 communities. It also hints at subcommittees focused on digital infrastructure, workforce, transformation, and clinical governance. While these ideas remain exploratory, they reflect a growing appetite to think boldly and collaboratively about the future of care in Doncaster.
The programme will be coordinated locally by Ruth Bruce, with support from a national coach assigned by NHS England. Practices will be kept informed through the LMC, Primary Care Networks, and the Integrated Care Partnership. If your practice is already involved in neighbourhood working, digital inclusion, or population health management, this is a great time to share your story. If you’re curious about how to engage, we’ll be facilitating opportunities to connect, contribute, and co-learn.
This is a moment of strategic significance for Doncaster. It validates the work many of you have been doing quietly for years – building relationships, innovating under pressure, and putting patients at the heart of care. As your LMC, we’re here to ensure that general practice remains central to this journey. We’ll continue to advocate for your voice, your needs, and your leadership in shaping the future of neighbourhood health.
As Doncaster embarks on this transformative journey through the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme, general practice would like to extend sincere thanks to our system partners whose collaboration and vision made this possible. Our gratitude goes to RDaSH, DBHFT, Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council, Healthwatch Doncaster, our VCSE representatives, the Local Optical Committee (LOC), Local Pharmaceutical Committee (LPC), Local Dental Committee (LDC), the Integrated Care Board (ICB), and Ruth Bruce for her leadership and coordination. Each of you played a vital role in shaping a proposal that reflects the best of Doncaster. We look forward to continuing this journey , with shared purpose and mutual respect.