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4w ago

NHS Expands Door-to-Door Health Worker Scheme After Promising Pilot Results

The initiative, part of a 10-year NHS reform plan, aims to reduce hospital admissions and sick leave but faces questions about scalability and reliance on non-clinical staff.

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Under the plan, a community health worker is allocated a patch of 120 to 150 homes, often paying monthly visits to see if help is needed (Photo: Getty)
Wes Streeting, the health secretary, said the scheme showed “really encouraging signs” in reducing the number of patients needing to go to hospital

Overview

  • The NHS is scaling up a door-to-door health worker programme to 25 areas in England after a successful pilot in Westminster showed a 10% drop in hospital admissions and a 7% reduction in A&E visits.
  • Community health workers will visit approximately 120 homes monthly to address health concerns and reduce reliance on emergency services, inspired by a similar model in Brazil.
  • Health Secretary Wes Streeting endorsed the scheme, highlighting its potential to provide care more efficiently and reduce the burden on overstretched NHS services.
  • Critics question the long-term feasibility of the programme, citing concerns over its reliance on non-clinically trained workers and the challenges of nationwide implementation.
  • The initiative is part of broader NHS reforms aiming to shift care to community-based models, improve early intervention, and reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies.