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The Chancellor has today confirmed funding for hundreds of new neighbourhood health centres, ahead of tomorrow’s budget.

The 250 new health ‘one stop shops’ will combine GPs, nurses, dentists and pharmacists together under one roof to best meet the needs of the local community, starting in the most deprived areas.

The centres will be part of a new Neighbourhood Health Service that will provide end-to-end care and tailored support - improving access to GPs, helping to prevent complications and avoid the frustration of being passed around the system, says the Department of Health.

Neighbourhood health services will initially focus on improving access to general practice and supporting people with complex needs and long-term conditions - like diabetes and heart failure - in the areas of the highest deprivation. As the programme grows, it will expand to support other patients and priority cohorts.

Construction will be delivered jointly by the public and private sector, and involve both repurposing current estate and new buildings, Neighbourhood health centres are a key part of the government’s plans for the NHS.

In the budget, the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is also set to announce £300 million of new capital investment into NHS tech, with new digital tools to be rolled out to NHS staff to improve productivity by automating administrative tasks and providing swifter access to patient information.

Achieving 2 per cent productivity growth will unlock £17 billion over the next three years to be reinvested into the NHS in England to improve patient care, claims the DHSC.