Council leader Richard Bingley has met with the Health Minister, Lord Markham to discuss the proposed West End health hub and described it as a ‘positive meeting’.
The leader and the Chief Executive of Plymouth City Council, Tracey Lee met the Under Secretary for the Department of Health and Social Care to ask for support in helping deliver the scheme.
Councillor Bingley said: “I impressed upon him the cross party support for a scheme which is helping to address deep-rooted and long-term problems in the health system – and kick start a much needed regeneration scheme.
“The Council with its partners have come up with an innovative solution that gives desperately-needed access to health care in the city centre and we are ready to go.
“The minister was supportive of the vision for the integrated health hub and said he was going to look at ways he can help getting the scheme delivered.”
The health and wellbeing centre earmarked for Colin Campbell Court has been in the pipeline for a number of years. The concept was originally for a new ‘integrated care centre’ to improve the health of residents as well as act as a major catalyst for the wider regeneration of the West End.
In 2018 NHS England announced plans for six pilot health projects known as ‘Cavell centres’ including this health hub. It was recognised as the most advanced of the projects, with detailed planning consent granted in last May and demolition of existing buildings on the site completed.
About the hub
The plan for the hub is for a three-storey building in Colin Campbell court. The intention is to house GPs as well outpatient services provided by University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust including diagnostics and x-ray and community services delivered by Livewell SouthWest such as mental health, community health and wellbeing services alongside a pharmacy, community kitchen and dining area, café and bookable interview and meeting voluntary sector rooms.