The ambition of NHS England’s Healthy New Towns programme [1] is to shape the health of communities, and rethink how health care services can be delivered by looking at improving health through the built environment. More specifically, the programme aims to develop new and more effective ways of shaping new towns, neighbourhoods and strong communities that promote health and wellbeing, prevent illness and keep people independent [2]. NHS England is bringing together renowned clinicians, designers and technology experts to reimagine how healthcare can be delivered in these places; showcase what is possible by joining up design of the built environment with modern health and care services; and to deploy new models of technology-enabled primary care. Ten demonstrator sites have been selected in March 2016, covering more than 76,000 new homes with potential capacity for approximately 170,000 residents [3]. |