A new model of integrated healthcare in the community has been launched by the National Association of Primary Care (NAPC).

The Primary Care Home is being developed to offer more personalised, coordinated and responsive care for up to 50,000 people delivered by a ‘complete clinical community’.

The initiative, endorsed by NHS England, draws together hospitals, primary care, community health services, social care and the voluntary sector to better meet the needs of patients.

Dr Nav Chana, chair of NAPC, said: “In essence what we are describing is the ‘home’ of care for a population with a tailored workforce with access to the data, tools and resources to provide high quality comprehensive care.

“Working at this scale ensures a functional team where everyone knows each other and there is a true sense of belonging for patients, the population and the workforce."

The new programme is designed to support the strengthening of primary care outlined in the NHS Five Year Forward View.

Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, said: “This programme offers an innovative approach to strengthening and redesigning primary care, centred around the needs of local communities, and tapping into the expertise of a wide array of health professionals.”

Key features of the Primary Care Home include primary, secondary and social care working together as part of an integrated workforce and a unified capitated budget.

The programme is being delivered by the NAPC and the NHS Confederation with additional support from the new care models programme.

Rob Webster, chief executive of NHS Confederation, said: “Members right across the country are developing new care models locally which break down the traditional boundaries between acute services, primary care, community health services, social care and the voluntary sector to better meet people's needs.

“Our Community Health Services Forum is working with NAPC to look at how deeper partnerships between community health services and primary care can develop.

“The opportunity to test and share evidence from the Primary Care Home model will be valuable to these efforts.”