The first services at a £10m health hub in Broadstairs will open this summer.
The hub, led by the East Kent Health and Care Partnership (EKHCP), will be based at the Carey building on the Nelson College campus – formerly the Canterbury Christ Church University site.
It is set to include an NHS community diagnostic centre, a range of NHS community services, a new home for St Peter’s GP Surgery and community and voluntary organisations, such as Age UK.
The Carey building on the Nelson College campus is being converted to 36 consultation rooms for a variety of health services including GPs, primary care same day access hub with the ability to offer up to 60,000 appointments per year phased in over 5 years; community services including health visitors and community nurse provision.
Phase 1 of a Community Diagnostic Centre programme will include MRI, Echo Cardiogram and Phlebotomy while dental services will potentially come in phase 2 of the programme.
Public engagement
The EKHCP led a programme of public engagement in January and February to gather local views on the hub, to which almost 1,000 people responded. More than 700 people completed an online survey and another 250 people joined public events and focus groups, either in-person or online.
EKHCP Programme Director Karen Sharp said: “It’s incredibly exciting. We have carried out extensive public engagement to hear from as many people as possible and we’d like to thank everyone for taking the time to respond.
“Overall, we’ve heard strong support for the hub services from patients, public and staff. By continuing to work with patients, the community and our partners, we will work hard to address concerns about transport, parking and traffic congestion to ensure the hub’s success.”
Events for the community to have their say included a meeting in Broadstairs chaired by East Thanet MP Polly Billington, as well as online engagement events and focused engagements with key organisations such as the Thanet Stroke Association, Speak Up CIC, a mental health voluntary organisation based in Margate and year 13 pupils from St George’s School.
Discussions were held with St Peter’s Surgery patient participation group too, with members saying they were ‘very excited’ about the plans.
Residents who attended said they hope the new hub will improve access to services and reduce waiting times for diagnostic services, like MRI and echocardiograms, make it easier to access multiple services in one location, reduce the need to travel for appointments and that the hub might be able to offer additional services in the near future. Community organisations are excited to be involved.
Contractors start work
Philip Griffiths, Director of Estates Optimisation at Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT), which will be leasing the building, said: “Contractors have now started work on the building.
“We have taken on board everything that has been said and we will be working with partners to look at what is possible as part of a comprehensive travel plan. We’re exploring all opportunities for parking, to make sure we can accommodate everyone, including blue-badge holders, on-site.”
The plans are for 10 consultations or examination rooms, two counselling rooms, two treatment rooms, plus eight rooms for community services and six rooms for the community diagnostic centres on the ground floor. There will be additional clinical space on the first floor and the second floor will be for administrative services.
Read the Thanet health hub: We’re listening full report at: www.kentcht.nhs.uk/download/thanet-health-hub-engagement-report.
Find out more about the hub at: www.kentcht.nhs.uk/thanethealthhub.
