Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the NHS's document entitled Neighbourhood health centre guidance for regions and integrated care boards published on 16 April 2026, whether physiotherapists are included in the community health team.
Neighbourhood health centres (NHCs) will bring together general practice (GP) with a mix of community, local authority, adult social care, and civil society services, allowing staff to deliver more coordinated and effective care for better patient outcomes and experiences. As set out in the Neighbourhood Health Centre guidance for regions and integrated care boards, NHCs will at minimum be expected to include an on-site GP, community health, and integrated neighbourhood teams (INTs). These INTs bring together different professions and partners to work side by side to support people.
The range of services available within NHCs will reflect the needs of the local population, meaning provision may vary between areas depending on local health priorities and community demand. The mix of services and professions, including whether physiotherapy forms a part of the community health team in a given centre, will be decided locally by integrated care boards and regions.
We will publish our 10 Year Workforce plan to ensure that the National Health Service has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients needs when they need it.