The NHS is under mounting pressure to meet the demands of nearly 300,000 outpatient appointments every day. Traditional hospital-centric care models are increasingly strained and unsustainable. Lord Darzi’s recent review into NHS performance underscores the importance of delivering care “closer to where people live and work,” a sentiment echoed by the government’s £1.5 billion pledge to support community health services through the Autumn Budget. This combination of vision and funding presents a unique opportunity to fundamentally rethink how outpatient care is delivered.
The Health on the High Street revolution represents a bold response to these challenges by relocating outpatient services to accessible, community-based hubs. Patients benefit from reduced travel barriers and improved attendance rates, while hospitals can refocus on complex, bedded specialties. Moreover, integrating healthcare into high street locations breathes life into underutilised spaces, driving local economic growth through increased footfall and job creation.
Drawing on our experience supporting the design and implementation of a high street outpatient centre for an acute care provider in the North of England, our report provides actionable insights for healthcare leaders. It explores how to prioritise non-bedded specialties like dermatology and physiotherapy for relocation, navigate logistical complexities, and build collaboration between healthcare providers and local authorities.
By combining patient-centric design, staff development, and robust partnership frameworks, the Health on the High Street model offers a sustainable pathway to address healthcare system inefficiencies. It also aligns with broader NHS goals of decentralisation and equity, as outlined in Lord Darzi’s review. With the financial backing provided by the Autumn Budget, there is no better time to pursue this transformative vision for outpatient care.
By rethinking local care delivery through the Health on the High Street revolution, the NHS can unlock capacity, improve care delivery and make outpatient services more accessible, equitable, and sustainable.
To find out more download our report here: Akeso Health on the High Street
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