Neighbourhood Health: CHWW in Cornwall

Jayne Kirkham MP with CHWW team

The Community Health and Wellbeing Workers (CHWW) programme, piloted in Cornwall since 2023, is a key part of the Health Secretary’s 10-Year Plan for the NHS. It is designed to bring healthcare into communities, especially in rural and coastal areas where access can be limited.

Since the launch, 60 Community Health Workers, employed through local charities and supported by Volunteer Cornwall, have been working alongside GP surgeries to support some of the county’s most vulnerable residents.

This is a model focused on prevention and early intervention, offering personalised care and support through trusted, long-term relationships. And it’s already showing real results:

• 90% of residents report improved wellbeing

• 82% are more likely to attend screenings

• 47% are more likely to get vaccinated

  
  

The scheme is seen as a good start to cut pressure on GP services and hospitals. Home visits in some regions have reduced strain on GP services by 7.3% a reason why the Health Secretary is calling for more community health services across the country, especially in rural areas like Cornwall.

The impact goes far beyond physical health, tackling issues like debt, loneliness, housing problems, domestic violence, and more.

This is the kind of forward thinking, community oriented model we need for the longevity of our NHS, and it has already proven to be working in Cornwall.

Read more here