Change is coming to health and social care in Northern Ireland, and pharmacy has a front-row seat. The launch of Northern Ireland’s Neighbourhood Care Model marks one of the most exciting developments in local healthcare for a generation.
This isn’t just another policy initiative; it’s a complete reimagining of how health and social care can work together, closer to home, to deliver more accessible, proactive, and sustainable care.
Almost a year ago, the Health Minister published “Health and Social Care NI – A Three Year Plan to Stabilise, Reform and Deliver.” That plan set out an ambitious goal: to rebalance how health and social care are delivered and to provide more care within local communities.
Now, with the publication of the HSC Reset Plan and the formal introduction of the Neighbourhood Care Model, that vision is taking shape — and it’s full of opportunity, especially for community pharmacy.
What the Neighbourhood Care Model Means
At its core, the Neighbourhood Care Model is about integration, collaboration, and prevention. It encourages GPs, pharmacists, social care teams, voluntary and community organisations, and local government to work together — breaking down traditional silos to design care around real people and real neighbourhoods.
This place-based model aims to:
- Improve access to same-day and local care
- Support early intervention and better management of long-term conditions
- Reduce hospital admissions and waiting lists
- Strengthen prevention and population wellbeing
- Build community resilience and tackle inequalities
It’s a bold step toward a future where care is proactive, personalised, and deeply rooted in local connection.
Pharmacy: The Front Door to Neighbourhood Care
Community pharmacies already stand at the heart of our communities: open, accessible, trusted — often the first point of contact for people seeking advice, reassurance, or quick access to treatment.
Under the Neighbourhood Care Model, that role becomes even more powerful. Pharmacies can act as local triage hubs, connecting people quickly and efficiently to the right care pathway.
Imagine a patient visiting their local pharmacy with a minor illness. Within minutes, they’re assessed, treated, or seamlessly referred to another service through shared digital systems — ensuring continuity of care without duplication.
This approach delivers real benefits:
- Fewer unnecessary GP or emergency department visits
- Faster, more efficient care for patients
- Better use of resources and clinical time
- Reduced system pressure and improved outcomes
This is integration in action — and it’s something pharmacy is uniquely positioned to deliver, if it is given the tools to do it.
Empowering the Pharmacy Workforce
To realise this potential, investment in pharmacy teams is essential — and not just financial investment. We need to invest in time, trust, and training so people can work at the top of their skillsets.
- Support staff and technicians play a vital role in triage, signposting, wellbeing advice, and ongoing support. Giving them the tools, skills, and digital access they need will make their roles more fulfilling and impactful.
- The growing number of independent prescriber pharmacists represents a turning point for primary care. They can diagnose, prescribe, and manage treatment independently — alleviating pressure on GPs and ensuring timely, effective care close to home.
This is what a modern, preventative healthcare system looks like: using every skill, every role, and every opportunity to keep people well.
Building Healthier, More Connected Communities
Neighbourhood Care isn’t just about redesigning services; it’s about reconnecting health with community.
We know that factors like housing, loneliness, and poverty have as much impact on health outcomes as clinical treatment. Pharmacies, deeply embedded in local areas, are perfectly placed to bridge those gaps.
By working alongside community partners, supporting local health campaigns, and embracing digital innovation, pharmacies can become anchors of wellbeing — places where healthcare meets community care. They can help people navigate complex systems, support self-care, and act as trusted connectors between the NHS, social care, private sector, and voluntary services.
Smart Care, Sustainable Future
Neighbourhood Care is also an opportunity to make healthcare more sustainable and efficient. Through collaboration and shared data, duplication can be reduced, resources better managed, and outcomes improved for both patients and professionals.
When care is delivered closer to home, it improves experience and outcomes — and reduces environmental impact, unnecessary travel, and system waste. This “invest to save” model reinvests efficiencies back into growth, innovation, and workforce development, creating a cycle of continuous improvement.
A Moment of Opportunity for Pharmacy
Yes, the healthcare system is under immense pressure. Yes, reform is challenging. But moments like this — where need, innovation, and opportunity align — are rare.
The Neighbourhood Care Model is a chance to redefine primary care around collaboration, prevention, and local empowerment. It’s a chance for community pharmacy to lead through digital integration, independent prescribing, better use of OTC medicines and self-care, and the personal relationships that have always been our strength.
Sometimes, the most transformative care doesn’t start in hospitals or GP practices. It starts at your local pharmacy counter — with a conversation, a connection, and a community-driven approach to better health.
The Future Is Local — and Pharmacy Is Leading the Way
As Northern Ireland shapes its future around neighbourhood care, community pharmacy stands ready to deliver real impact. With shared referral systems, digital integration, and empowered teams, pharmacies can form the backbone of this new care ecosystem — helping people stay healthy, access care quickly, and feel supported in their own communities.
This is an era of excitement, opportunity, and transformation — for pharmacy, for healthcare, and for every neighbourhood across Northern Ireland.
Join the Conversation
- How do you see community pharmacy fitting into the Neighbourhood Care Model?
- What opportunities or challenges should we prioritise first?
Let’s keep this conversation going — the future of healthcare starts right here, in our neighbourhoods.
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