Community Pharmacy Key to South East London Neighbourhood Health Model

Key Points

• South East London Integrated Care Board (ICB) labels community pharmacy as crucial in reducing health inequalities and delivering neighbourhood-level care.
• London’s new neighbourhood health model integrates community pharmacy within hyper-local Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs) alongside general practice and community organisations.
• Community Pharmacy England’s report A prescription for success highlights community pharmacy’s essential role within the government’s 10-year health plan.
• All five London ICBs have adopted the shared operating model, positioning pharmacies as first points of contact with extended hours and walk-in access.
• South East London ICB has appointed Community Pharmacy Neighbourhood Leads (CPNLs) to improve communication and pharmacy representation in governance.
• Over 100,000 Pharmacy First consultations delivered, with pharmacist-led care models piloted ahead of the 2026 independent prescribing mandate.
• Community pharmacies contribute to cancer referral pathways, health and wellbeing programmes, and medicines optimisation aligned with local health priorities.
• North Central London ICB emphasizes pharmacy’s role in managing long-term conditions, disease prevention, and neighbourhood health delivery.
• The Target Operating Model published in May 2025 outlines borough-level rollout across London within two years.

How is community pharmacy integrated into London’s neighbourhood health model?

As reported by Helen Buckingham, health policy advisor, in Community Pharmacy England’s A prescription for success report, community pharmacy is positioned as a “vital partner” within London’s neighbourhood health framework. The model employs a “team of teams” approach that situates pharmacies at the hyper-local tier of Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs) across all five London ICBs. These hyper-local teams serve as the first points of contact for residents, enabling easy access to primary care alongside voluntary and community organisations with strong local knowledge.

This shared operating model places community pharmacy alongside general practice and supports joined-up care aimed at improving prevention and reducing overall demand on health services. Hyper-local INTs identify emerging health needs early and coordinate care under shared protocols with district nursing, mental health, tailored local functions, and specialist consultant input at higher tiers. The overall goal is delivering more coordinated and accessible healthcare near residents’ homes.

What role does South East London Integrated Care Board see for community pharmacy?

A spokesperson for South East London ICB told The Pharmacist that the region’s 232 community pharmacies offer “hyper-local, culturally competent care,” operating extended hours and providing walk-in access. This accessibility paired with clinical capability ensures pharmacies are integral in reducing health inequalities while enhancing population health outcomes.

The ICB has embedded Community Pharmacy Neighbourhood Leads (CPNLs) within neighbourhood governance frameworks to enhance communication between pharmacy and health teams locally. These roles serve to strengthen engagement with the wider integrated neighbourhood teams and ensure pharmacy’s contributions are effectively represented when commissioning services.

The spokesperson also highlighted achievements including the delivery of over 100,000 Pharmacy First consultations—an NHS initiative offering clinical advice and treatment without an appointment—and pilot projects expanding pharmacist-led care models under joint health governance. These pilots anticipate the forthcoming 2026 independent prescribing mandate that will grant pharmacists new prescribing authority, advancing their clinical role.

How is community pharmacy contributing to wider healthcare goals in London?

Beyond direct consultations, community pharmacies provide vital links within cancer referral pathways, support health and wellbeing interventions, and participate in medicines optimisation programmes. These activities align with the strategic health aims of local populations, addressing both acute and chronic needs.

South East London ICB is also working on a five-year strategic commissioning plan with a dedicated medicines and pharmacy section. This plan aims to transform community pharmacy’s position from a transactional service to a strategic provider embedded in integrated care systems.

What is North Central London ICB’s perspective on community pharmacy’s role?

North Central London ICB, according to a spokesperson cited by The Pharmacist, shares a similar view of community pharmacy as “highly skilled and important in managing long-term conditions in the community.” The spokesperson emphasised pharmacies’ roles in advising communities, preventing disease, and forming a key element of local care and support networks.

This partnership ethos between pharmacy and the broader health system reflects a wider London-wide trend towards utilising community pharmacy as a cornerstone of accessible primary care within the neighbourhood model.

What does the Target Operating Model say about implementing neighbourhood health services?

The Target Operating Model (TOM) published by NHS London in May 2025 outlines London’s plan to implement the neighbourhood health service fully across all 32 boroughs within two years. It details the integration of community pharmacy and other primary care resources into the layered health service, with hyper-local INTs forming the foundation, supported by district nursing, mental health, tailored local functions, and specialist aligned services.

This framework aims to make care more local, joined-up, and proactive by embedding multi-disciplinary teams that work collaboratively to meet holistic health needs.

Why is community pharmacy considered critical in reducing health inequalities?

Pharmacies often provide the most accessible point of care for diverse and socio-economically varied communities, offering culturally sensitive services with extended hours and no need for appointments. South East London ICB emphasises that these characteristics enable pharmacies to reach underserved groups, detect health issues early, and ensure timely interventions that can prevent conditions worsening.

Moreover, pharmacy’s role in medicines optimisation and targeted health promotion directly contributes to reducing disparities in health outcomes aligned with national health equity ambitions.