People are being invited to have their say on proposals for a new integrated health and wellbeing hub in Havering from today (22 November) as part of 12 weeks’ public engagement.
Health and care partners across north east London have been working together for a number of years to design the hub, which proposes to bring together a range of health, social care and community services under one roof, in a brand-new fit-for-purpose facility.
In autumn 2019, the Government announced it would allocate £17 million towards the funding of the project. Since then, local GPs have been working with NHS partners from the local clinical commissioning group, North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) and Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospital NHS Trust (BHRUT) to develop the plans.
Planning permission for the development was granted by Havering Council earlier this month.
The new hub aims to provide integrated primary, community, mental health and local authority care services on one site, at the former St George’s Hospital site in Suttons Lane, Hornchurch.
People from across Havering and its neighbouring boroughs of Redbridge and Barking and Dagenham will also benefit from health and wellbeing and early prevention services, and additional capacity for some services currently based in local hospitals. This will enable people to receive assessment, treatment and a wide range of support in one place.
The hub design also includes community facilities, such as an integrated café, education facilities, and meeting spaces, as well as a sensory, dementia-friendly communal garden with a wetland area.
NHS North East London Clinical Commissioning Group (NEL CCG) is seeking feedback on the proposals from people across Havering, Barking and Dagenham and Redbridge from today (22 November) until Friday 13 February 2022.
Havering GP and Clinical Lead for the Health and Wellbeing Hub, Dr Atul Aggarwal, said:
“The hub aims to bring together a mix of health and care professionals in a single location to promote more joined up working between the NHS, the council and voluntary and community sectors.
“People will be able to receive help with keeping well, assessment, treatment, diagnostics and a wide range of support. It will also be a valuable community resource with space for local organisations.
“We want it to be an innovative, best practice model of integrated health and social care that others can learn from and that local people can be proud of. As well as a range of health, social care and community services available on one site, we expect the hub to become the catalyst for bringing professionals together to develop new, integrated pathways of care that focus on meeting patients’ needs.
“I’d encourage everyone to look at our proposals and share their feedback. This is an important opportunity for a major investment in health and social care facilities in north east London, and we want to hear from local people.”
Under the proposals, some GP services would move to the new hub, alongside early diagnostic services for cancer, some outpatient services, frailty services for older people, and mental health services. Havering Council will be able to provide services for adults and children on site, and space will be made available for local voluntary sector services.
To find out more and share your views, you can read NEL CCG’s engagement document which explains the proposals in more detail, and take part in an online questionnaire at https://northeastlondon.icb.nhs.uk/SGHhub
Paper copies of the document and questionnaire will be available at locations around St George’s and can be requested by emailing communications@nelft.nhs.uk.
There will also be a number of online listening events, with the first scheduled for Saturday 27 November, between 10am and 12noon. Details are also available on the North East London Health and Care Partnership website.