Community services at Guy’s and St Thomas’ turns 15

We are celebrating the 15-year anniversary of community services joining the Trust. It's an important opportunity to recognise the dedication, innovation and outstanding achievements from our staff who support thousands of children and adults every day in our communities.

Since April 2011, our teams have provided services in patients’ homes and in other settings including hostels, day centres, health centres, and outpatient clinics closer to where people live. 

By bringing together our hospital services with care provided in patients’ homes and other community locations, we can deliver smoother, more efficient care and better patient outcomes.

Our community teams - including pharmacists, nurses, doctors, allied health professionals, social workers, support workers, administrative and clerical and operational staff – care for people across south east London.

Innovative care

Over the years, our community programmes have received national and local recognition for their ambitious, pioneering work:

• Guy's and St Thomas' was the first NHS trust in England to introduce neighbourhood nursing.
• Our adult and paediatric hospital @home services have led the way nationally, providing urgent care for people in their own homes, and reducing the need for hospital admissions. Remote monitoring technology is also helping us to support even more people at home. 
• Other notable examples include Evelina London Patch children's community nursing team who have been recognised for their early intervention services.
• Our intermediate care services integrate health and social care.
• Our services range from prevention of ill health through to care for people at the end of their lives.
• More recently the new Harold Moody Health Centre opened its doors, providing services for children and adults in one place. This includes speech and language therapy, health visiting, school nursing, breastfeeding, and midwifery services right in the heart of our community. Our Aylesbury neighbourhood nursing team and our weight management service are also based at the new centre.  

Neighbourhood Health

Looking ahead there is an exciting opportunity to provide more services in the community like these, as part of the move towards neighbourhood health treatment centres where teams from hospitals, GP surgeries, social care and the voluntary sector will work together.

Amanda Pritchard, Chief Executive of Guy’s and St Thomas’, said:

“Congratulations to our inspiring community staff whose dedication, resilience and hard work over the last 15 years has helped us make a positive difference to the lives of many thousands of local patients. 

“Building on this legacy, our commitment to neighbourhood health aligns directly with the government’s 10-Year Health Plan, which outlines a shift away from a system centred on acute hospital care towards one rooted in the local neighbourhood. Starting this year, we will be working with GPs, local authorities, and other voluntary and third sector partners to create Integrated Neighbourhood Teams across Lambeth and Southwark. This will bring the expertise of Guy’s and St Thomas’ closer to our patients and communities.

“Together, we will provide holistic support that helps residents stay well and reduces the need for hospital admissions. This evolution ensures that we are not just treating illness but are active partners in the long-term health and well-being of our local communities.”

Louise Dark, Chief Executive of Guy’s and St Thomas’ Integrated and Specialist Medicine clinical group and lead for neighbourhood health, said: “The last 15 years have shown just how powerful community services can be when they are fully integrated with hospital care. Our teams have transformed the way we support people – delivering high‑quality, compassionate care closer to home, and responding to the needs of our local communities with innovation and ambition. This anniversary is a moment to celebrate the extraordinary commitment of our staff and to look ahead with confidence as we continue to expand and strengthen neighbourhood‑based care.”

Gubby Ayida, Chief Executive of Guy’s and St Thomas’ Women’s and Children’s clinical groupt, said: “Community services play a vital role in supporting children and families, often at some of the most important moments in their lives. From early intervention through to ongoing care, our teams work across homes, schools and clinics to provide joined‑up, personalised support. I am incredibly proud of what has been achieved over the past 15 years, and excited about the opportunities ahead as we build even stronger partnerships to improve outcomes for children and young people in our communities.”