A multi-million pound health centre is being planned for the West End of Plymouth’s city centre.
The public are to be asked for their views to help shape the plans for a proposed Health and Wellbeing Centre in the vicinity of .
Plymouth City Council and NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) have joined forces to develop plans for the new, purpose-built health, care and wellbeing centre.
The centre would include a range of services all under one roof. The new building would provide a much-needed modern health and wellbeing facility, and would also help kick-start the regeneration of the area.
The scheme is still at an early stage but the joint team developing the proposal want to hear from people about services and facilities they think could go in the building, and are running a local engagement programme from May 29 to July 4, 2021.
It is not yet known exactly where the new building will go, but in 2017 and the land is still vacant.
In October 2020, Plymouth City Council authorised £1.5m to develop the project further, but it is understood the project will cost much more than that.
Cllr Patrick Nicholson, deputy leader of the council but who is also responsible for health and adult social care, said: “This is a chance to shape a centre which will help prevent illness and encourage people to lead longer healthier lives. We have a few ideas in mind, but we want to hear from the people who are likely to use it - are we heading in the right direction?
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“The City Council’s priority under the new administration is to roll out Health and Wellbeing Hubs throughout Plymouth and we wish to bring health and other services under one roof in a purpose-built and flexible building.”
Jo Turl, director of out-of-hospital commissioning at Devon CCG, said: “A West End Health and Wellbeing Centre would make a real difference to people in Plymouth by offering a wide range of services in a modern building in a convenient location.
“We’re very keen to hear about what is important to local people in terms of health, care and community services as part of the engagement programme.
“Local partners have been talking to people in Plymouth about these issues in recent years, so we have a good idea of key themes, but this is a great opportunity for local people to have their say.
“The health and wellbeing centre project is a great example of a local council and the NHS working together with the common aim of improving local services for local people.”
To develop ideas about the services that could go in the centre, the project team has considered the outcomes of recent engagement and consultation work in Plymouth, reviewed local data on service use and demographics, and run workshops with local partners. Current thinking on potential services includes:
General practice (GP) services
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Weight management and smoking cessation
District and practice nursing
Physiotherapy and occupational therapy
Mental health services
Drug and alcohol treatment
Advice and information services
Debt assistance and housing support
Access to training and employment
Volunteer support.
To help get the views of people, the council and the NHS are partnering with Nudge Community Builders to talk to residents in and around Stonehouse as well as the many community organisations based there.
Feedback from businesses will also be key as it is hoped the additional footfall from staff, patients and service users would bring a welcome boost to the local economy.
Recent regeneration schemes nearby include Frankfort Gate, which has been transformed following the removal of the old footbridge and a makeover.
The location falls within St Peter and the Waterfront. People living in St Peter and the Waterfront have a life expectancy of about 77 years; roughly 7.5 years less than the least deprived Plymouth ward.
The main causes of reduced life expectancy for both men and women are cancer and circulatory diseases and the ward has higher rates of smoking, childhood obesity and emergency hospital admissions.
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By working with local people, the project team hopes to encourage people to feel involved, to strengthen the local community as well as address health inequalities.
Closer working by different organisations should make it easier for patients to ‘tell their story once’ to the NHS with fewer people falling between the gaps in service.
It’s not just social care and health needs being considered. A digital inclusion hub - a place for those who do not have access to their own computer or need a hand or training to access online services - is also being considered.
Wider benefits of this new centre could be a reduction in unplanned and emergency services as well as a boost to out-of-hospital care and are a more joined-up approach to services.
The first engagement event is this Saturday, May 29, at Manor Street Market in Stonehouse, from 10am to 12pm, where people come together to enjoy music, browse around the stalls, with food available. Further engagement opportunities will be held in June, with details to follow.