NHS Hull Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is consulting on plans for a new Integrated Care Centre in the east of the city to deliver specialist care, better management of long term health conditions and services for frail, elderly patients across Hull.
The CCG is working with Hull City Council and other partners including Humberside Fire and Rescue Service to develop 21st century community facilities to improve health outcomes and quality of life for the city’s vulnerable older residents.
The new centre – which should open at the end of 2016 – could include rehabilitation facilities, a clinically-led Rapid Access Assessment Unit and a joint base for health and social care teams. Key NHS services will be co-located on site and able to work more closely with social care, residential care homes, social housing, voluntary groups and charities.
Pictured at the proposed site are (left to right): Deputy Chief Fire Officer Chris Blacksell, Hull CCG Director of Commissioning and Partnerships Julia Mizon, Lord Mayor of Hull Mary Glew and Councillor Helena Spencer
The Centre, which will be open seven days a week, will enable people to have access to diagnostic testing (x-rays and ultrasound) without having to attend hospital. Patients will be referred to the centre by their GP, community or hospital team and will normally be assessed and treated on a day-case basis.
Hull City Council has agreed to make the land available for the new build at the former David Lister School site in East Hull. The site offers good access, flexibility and capacity for the proposed Integrated Care Centre, close to a development being planned by Pickering and Ferens Housing Association for 54 bungalows on the site.
Another key idea being explored by Humberside Fire and Rescue is to locate a small operational fire station on the site to better support and protect the local community, particularly its more vulnerable members. Further details are outlined in the public consultation document.
The Integrated Care Centre forms part of the wider Hull 2020 transformational programme and aligns with the City Plan.
Dr John Parker, CCG GP board member and clinical lead on the project development group, said:
“This type of integrated care facility will allow a number of services to be delivered out of hospital and closer to home, helping to reduce emergency hospital admissions which can often be very distressing for patients.
“Long term health conditions can be managed much more proactively. Patients could be assessed by a senior doctor at the Centre, in the Rapid Access Assessment Unit, and have tests like x-rays or ultrasound scans. They would then go home, or back to their care home, the same day with an on-going plan of care that would be shared with their GP and social care.”
Councillor Helena Spencer, Hull City Council Portfolio Holder for Prevention and Safeguarding Adults, said:
“The new Integrated Care Centre brings together housing, health, social care and the voluntary sector to enable people to have a safe reintroduction back into their own community.
“People will have more control over their lives, involvement in their own care and choice over their treatment. This supportive care helps them to recover from illness and to regain their independence and confidently return to their own homes.”
Dr Parker added:
“Over the last year we have spoken to people about the services they access, their experiences of local health care and the kind of support they would need to remain living independently. We welcome the input of residents, patients, carers in the development of this exciting new facility and we want to continue to involve them in our plans.”
Consultation on the new centre runs from 26 January to 12 April 2015. People can leave their comments via a freepost questionnaire available in many public buildings or fill in the survey at www.hullccg.nhs.uk/pages/have-your-say
A series of public meetings are planned, where residents can listen in more detail to the plans and have their say:
Thurs 5 February – Endike Community Care Centre, 21st Avenue, Hull HU6 8DL 10.30 – 12.30hrs
Thurs 12 February – Freedom Centre, 97 Preston Road, Hull HU9 3QB 18.30 – 20.30hrs
Tues 24 February – The Octagon, Walker Street, Hull HU3 2RA 15.30 – 17.30hrs
Tues 3 March – Central Library, Albion Street, Hull HU1 3TF 11.30 – 13.30hrs
No booking is necessary at the public events. For details of special focus groups please contact the Engagement Team on 01482 344700.