Six areas in England are being backed to develop new neighbourhood health services, as the government seeks to move more healthcare closer to people's homes and communities.

The programme, announced by the Department of Health and Social Care, will support six neighbourhood health trailblazers in developing investment plans and attracting additional funding for local healthcare services.

The initiative is designed to bring different parts of healthcare together, including NHS services, community care and wider support, with the aim of reducing pressure on hospitals and improving access to care closer to home.

The government says the selected projects will work with NHS partners and investors to develop new models of neighbourhood healthcare. The programme is also intended to address health inequalities between different communities.

The move comes as the NHS faces continued pressure from high demand for hospital and emergency services. NHS England reported that A&E attendances reached a record 7.27 million during June, July and August, while the waiting list stood at around 7.3 million in July.

The neighbourhood health programme represents a broader shift towards community-based healthcare, prevention and earlier intervention, as policymakers look for ways to manage demand across the NHS.