Speaking at a roundtable on neighbourhood health at the ADASS Spring Seminar in Bedford yesterday, Maubach said ‘this is about really particularly changing the culture in the NHS to align services in these populations and align that to local government, and align that to communities that people understand'.

NHSE published its neighbourhood health framework in March setting out targets for the programme.

Maubach said Health and Wellbeing Boards would be a ‘key local decision making vehicle for setting neighbourhood health plans'.

Delegates also heard from first wave neighbouhood health pioneers in Rochdale and Walsall.

Nichola Thompson, director of the Integrated Care and Healthcare Directorate at Rochdale Borough Council, said: ‘We've seen for the first time a reduction in A&E admissions compared to previous year's activity.'

Kerry Allwood, executive director of health and care integration at Walsall Council, provided insight into the place-based partnership, Walsall Together.

Allwood said intermediate care changes had cut the hospital discharge list from 100-230 per day to around 30 per day following the introduction of a one-day discharge standard.