Barts Health NHS Trust has announced that St George’s Health and Wellbeing Hub is set to open its doors in September 2024.
A Barts Health NHS Trust told Building Better Healthcare that The hub is currently on track for seeing its first patients in September.
"It will be a phased mobilisation of services, beginning with a local GP practice relocating into the hub, followed by community services and Ageing well centre, and Dialysis," the spokesperson added.
September will see the first services move into the hub while the other services will join over the following months.
This modern, purpose-built hub is being built by McLaren Construction Group and will support approximately 250,000 people, offering a comprehensive range of integrated services all under one place, seven days a week.
St George’s Health and Wellbeing Hub is set to open its doors in September 2024
The hub will provide easy access to a range of health, social care, and community services all under one roof, including GP services, outpatient clinics, mental health services, community care, and diagnostic facilities for earlier cancer diagnosis.
By bringing together a mix of health and care professionals in one place people will be able to get a range of different support from the NHS, the council, and local voluntary and community groups all in one visit.
It will also provide space for local voluntary and community groups to deliver a range of activities to support people’s wider health and wellbeing needs, as well as a community café, multi-purpose education and meeting spaces and a sensory, dementia-friendly communal garden.
The hub will provide easy access to a range of health, social care, and community services all under one roof
Key benefits of the hub include:
- Convenient access to a wide range of services in one location.
- The ability to book appointments and be seen by multiple professionals during a single visit.
- Quicker access to diagnostic services and faster referrals between services so people can be seen and treated more quickly.
- Fewer hospital visits and admissions.
- A convenient location with excellent public transport links and parking.
- Easy access to support from local charities and community groups (eg. exercise classes, bereavement groups), and social activities — even in the evening and weekends.
- Opportunity to speak to professionals about other issues that may affect their health like housing
- Modern building with local amenities like a community café and sensory gardens
Hornchurch and Upminster MP Julia Lopez was given a tour of the hub as construction work enters its final stages. Speaking after her visit, she said: “Delivering the St George’s NHS hub has been my top campaign priority since 2017, so it is absolutely brilliant that we are now only weeks away from seeing its doors open to patients."
"I want residents to get the very best healthcare, and the hub will be a game-changer on that front. With integrated health and social care services, plus a diagnostics hub that will see thousands more tests and scans delivered every year, St George’s looks set to become a national model of best practice. Not only that, but it creates an opportunity for Queen’s Hospital to remodel the overloaded A&E so that emergency care locally improves too," Lopez added.
