Thousands more NHS appointments and a range of new health and care services are coming to Newham, after a local health centre was awarded government funding for a major refurbishment.
The investment in Centre Manor Park was announced this week by the Minister for Health and Social Care as part of a national programme to bring health services closer to where people live. It is the first site in north east London to receive such funding and reflects our focus on neighbourhood working across our partners and our geography.
The money will be used to refurbish and reconfigure the building, creating new clinical rooms and a dedicated new service for children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse — bringing specialist support out of hospital settings and into the local community to help deliver our neighbourhood health model.
Once the work is complete, around 6,000 extra GP and primary care appointments will be available to Newham people every year.
The refurbishment will include a brand new Sunrise Hub; a purpose-built, welcoming space for children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse, providing specialist support and early help in a safe community setting. Five new clinical rooms on the first floor, including two treatment rooms and dedicated space for women’s services
Newham is one of the most deprived areas in England. Centre Manor Park was chosen because of its potential to make a real difference to local people quickly, supporting GPs, community nurses and other services to work together under one roof in their neighbourhood. It is the first site in north east London to be selected for Wave 1 of the national Neighbourhood Health Centre programme, which focuses on rapid refurbishments of existing buildings that can be brought into use quickly.
The investment is part of the Government’s ambition to create a Neighbourhood Health Centre in every community in England by 2035, with 120 up and running by 2030.
Dr Nnenna Osuji, Chief Executive of NHS North East London, said:
“This funding will make a real difference to people in Newham and mean we can offer thousands more appointments, bring specialist support for some of our most vulnerable children into the community, and make better use of the space we have.
“Being part of the first wave of the national Neighbourhood Health Centre programme is a significant milestone, it reflects the ambition across north east London to bring care closer to the people who need it most.”
