East Brighton team wins regional NHS Excellence Award for neighbourhood health
Neighbourhood health in East Brighton
The Integrated Community Team (ICT) won the regional award and is now shortlisted for the national ceremony, in recognition of its innovative work to improve people’s access to the care they need and reduce health inequalities.
The East Brighton team is improving neighbourhood health by focusing on the needs of the local community and identifying new ways to support people closer to home.
East Brighton is an area where many residents experience significant health and social challenges, including long-term health conditions, poor mental health, insecure housing and unemployment.
Many people in this diverse community face barriers to accessing traditional healthcare services. Local data shows higher than average A&E attendance and hospital admissions that could have been prevented, alongside lower uptake of cancer screening and services that support people to stay well and prevent health problems before they become serious.
At the heart of the team’s approach is the Whitehawk Health Hub, which launched in November 2024.
Watch the following video to learn more about the Whitehawk Health Hub:
Whitehawk Health Hub
The Hub operates a weekly open-access drop-in service with no appointment needed, bringing together healthcare professionals and voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations at Robert Lodge - a trusted community space on a local housing estate.
Residents can access support from a wide range of professionals in a single visit, including GPs, pharmacists, physiotherapists, mental health practitioners, benefits advisors and housing support services. The aim is to provide earlier intervention, personalised care and practical support for both medical and non-medical needs.
We recognise that not all people that turn up at the GP practice need to see a GP or a nurse. By embedding our services in the local community, I like to think that we are breaking down those barriers to health care, whether it's a waiting list or traveling or just not knowing where to go.
Prevention and intervention
Alongside the hub, the ICT team has also delivered outreach sessions in trusted local venues such as food projects and women’s groups - helping to reach people who may face barriers to accessing traditional healthcare services.
These sessions focus on prevention and early intervention, including blood pressure checks, health literacy support, cancer screening awareness, digital inclusion and NHS App support. The team has also introduced targeted support for specific groups, including a peer-led Pain Café and a proactive community respiratory clinic for patients at higher risk of going into hospital.
Over the past 15 months, the neighbourhood hub model has delivered measurable benefits for residents, communities and staff. The weekly drop-in service alone has supported 1,269 residents, with more than half of attendees reporting they would otherwise have sought help from their GP.