South West NHS Launches Vaccination Outreach Programme to Reach Underserved Communities

The NHS in the South West has announced a new vaccination outreach programme designed to improve access to vaccinations for people living in communities where uptake has traditionally been lower.

From 1 September 2026, seven organisations will begin delivering dedicated outreach services across the region under new three-year contracts. The programme aims to reduce health inequalities by supporting people who face barriers to accessing routine vaccination services.

Rather than replacing existing services, the outreach teams will work alongside GP practices, community pharmacies and school-aged immunisation teams. Their role will include engaging directly with local communities, providing trusted information about vaccine eligibility, answering questions, building confidence in vaccination and helping people access appointments more easily.

According to NHS England South West, barriers to vaccination can include:

• Difficulty travelling to appointments
• Limited appointment availability
• Language or communication needs
• Digital exclusion
• Lack of trusted information
• Previous experiences with healthcare services

The programme will use local data and community insight to identify areas where additional support is needed most, helping to target resources where they can have the greatest impact.

NHS England South West said the programme is intended to reduce health inequalities by improving access to vaccination services for people who face barriers to healthcare, including those affected by language, transport, digital exclusion and limited access to trusted information.

The seven providers appointed to deliver the service are:

• One Care – Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
• Banes Enhanced Medical Services (BEMS) – Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire
• Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust – Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
• University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust – Devon
• Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust – Dorset
• Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust – Gloucestershire
• Somerset NHS Foundation Trust – Somerset

The initiative supports the NHS Vaccination Strategy and aligns with the Government’s focus on prevention and reducing health inequalities by ensuring more people can access potentially life-saving vaccinations, regardless of where they live or the challenges they face.

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