No neighbourhood provider contracts for another year

None of the neighbourhood contracts proposed in the 10-Year Health Plan will go live until at least April 2027, HSJ understands.

A “model neighbourhood” document is still due to be published this month, asking local organisations to continue the planning and development of neighbourhood health. However, anticipated details of the new contracts will not be published until at least the summer.

Officials have now decided they need to hold a public consultation on the purpose of single neighbourhood provider (SNP) and multiple neighbourhood provider (MNP) contracts. After that has taken place, findings will feed into development of future annual GP contracts and NHS standard contract. The very earliest they could be implemented is 2027-28.

No firm timeline had been promised before, but many of those involved had expected quicker progress, and the 10-Year Health Plan said: “We will introduce two new contracts, with rollout beginning next year.” Earlier draft proposals had suggested SNPs may go live from April this year, HSJ understands.

The publication of the model neighbourhood, and details of how SNPs, MNPs and integrated health organisations will work together, have been subject to several months of delays as government struggled to agree the details.

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Source: HSJ, 12 February 2026