New guidance on neighbourhood health is to be provided by the Government shortly, it has been revealed.

The news came during a Q&A with DHSC permanent secretary Samantha Jones at NHS Confederation's Care Closer to Home Conference yesterday.

Jones said: ‘There will be guidance on neighbourhood health shortly.'

The DHSC boss said it was ‘a fair challenge' to say not enough detail on neighbourhood health had been provided since publication of the 10-Year Health Plan.

However, Jones added that waiting for national guidance ‘was the wrong thing to do'.

She commented: ‘If you wait to tell us all the things that should be happening and the things that are getting in the way of you delivering the policies that are set out in the 10-Year Health Plan that is the wrong thing to be doing.

‘Should you wait – no. Should you tell us what are the things that are getting in the way of you delivering neighbourhood health in terms of policy, for example – yes.

‘Should you show us where this is already happening – yes. Can you show us how this should be scaled – yes. Our job is to enable this to be happening and to do as much as possible to get out of the way.'

Speaking later during the conference, NHS England national medical director Dr Claire Fuller reaffirmed the Government's message, adding: ‘Please don't wait for guidance.

‘You know what you need to do.'